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 | Discussions led by the Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra with the development partners at the forum. |
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A meeting was held to facilitate discussion and exchange of views between the University of the South Pacific and its development partners on the University’s new six-year Strategic Plan (2013 - 2018).
The Development Partners Forum was hosted at the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre at the Laucala Campus in Suva on 27 September, 2012.
In welcoming the development partners, the Vice-Chancellor and the President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra thanked the development partners for their support towards the University.
A number of key areas were highlighted and discussed from the new six-year Strategic Plan that will lead up to the University’s 50th Anniversary in 2018.
These included comprehensive timeline development of regional campuses, a larger focus on accreditation at programme and institutional levels, greater emphasis on postgraduate studies, becoming one of the leaders in leveraging ICT for education, human resource development and significant shift towards creating a better link between world of academia and the world of work.
Professor Chandra pointed out that the overriding theme of the new Strategic Plan is to transform the University from good to excellent.
He explained that by 2018, USP wants to increase its enrolment from 12000 to almost 16000 effective full-time students, double the number of professors and achieve 300 percent increase in research output.
His presentation outlined the priorities in the new Strategic Plan as well as the overall vision, mission and values of the University.
During the forum, the development partners shared their governments and organizations’ priorities and views on the new Strategic Plan and the possible assistance that they can provide on the priority areas of the new Strategic Plan.
Development partners responded positively to the discussions on the new Strategic Plan.
Partners like Australia and New Zealand, which provide funding support towards the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan, expressed their satisfaction with the progress made by USP under the current Strategic Plan, which ends this year.
Both partners conveyed their continued support for the priorities in the new Strategic Plan which largely reflects on the University’s core business of producing quality graduates who will make an impact on the development of their countries.
The First Secretary (Regional Development), NZ High Commission, Dr Helen Leslie, said that New Zealand welcomes the continuity between the current Strategic Plan and the next one and looks forward for further engagement on the new Strategic Plan.
Similar support for the University was indicated by Japan and Indonesia. Representatives of both countries acknowledged the Vice-Chancellor for his presentation on the new Strategic Plan.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Fiji, His Excellency Mr Aidil Chandra Salim recommended a few new areas that the University can explore to help bridge business between Asia and the Pacific.
Japan’s long standing support to USP in the areas of grant aid assistance, dispatch of experts and people to people exchanges was also noted at the forum.
The University was commended for its pursuit for quality and international accreditation of its programmes particularly around the areas of Pacific culture and marine resources by United Nations agencies present at the meeting. They also expressed their desire to collaborate more strongly with CROP agencies including USP.
During the conclusion of the meeting, Professor Chandra thanked the development partners and their governments and institutions’ commitment towards the University and the development of the region.
He also invited further feedback on the new Strategic Plan which will be considered by the University Council in November, this year.
Present at the meeting were representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Asian Development Bank, JICA, UNDP, UNFPA and the World Health Organisation.
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