USP’s Strategic Plan 2013-2018 Launched in Honiara

The launch coincided with USP delegation’s visit to Honiara from 16-19 April 2013 to sign land lease agreement with Government and launch its new USP Solomon Island Campus project at Ndoma in Honiara. 

 

USP delegation was led by Pro-Chancellor & Chair of Council- Mr. Ikbal Jannif,  and comprised the Vice Chancellor & President-Professor Rajesh Chandra; Deputy Vice Chancellor,  Administration and Regional Campus - Dr. Esther Williams; Director, Development, Marketing and Communications - Mr. Jaindra Karan; Director, Properties and Facilities – Mr. Adish Naidu and Manager, ADB Project-Mr. Tevita Banuve.  The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Fiji, H.E Patterson Oti also was part of the USP delegation. 

 

In his welcome address the Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Rajesh Chandra welcomed and thanked all stakeholders in Solomon Islands who had contributed to the development of the Strategic Plan, which will take USP to its 50th Anniversary in 2018.

 

Professor Chandra extended special thanks to Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands for his and his government’s support to USP.  He said “we are very grateful for the trust and confidence that you have shown in setting aside 100 hectares of land donated by the people of Guadalcanal for the construction of a new USP campus in Honiara.  This morning we witnessed the signing of the land lease and launch of the USP Campus project in Ndoma by the Hon Prime Minister, which will effectively allow USP and ADB to progress the project expeditiously.” 

 

Professor Chandra further said that the development of USP Solomon Island Campus is part of the  Strategic Plan 2013-2018 and USP undertakes to complete the construction of the Campus by the end of 2015.  

 

The Strategic Plan 2013-2018  paints a picture of USP as we imagine it in 2018 - a larger university,  known for excellence in areas such as Climate Change, Pacific Studies, and ICT, that produces the research needed by member countries and the type of graduates who can drive economic growth in the region.  

 

The plan names four major focal areas of development that are important to the University’s growth and success in the next six years.  These are the regional campuses, regionally-relevant research, entrepreneurialism, and USP’s role as an exemplar institution.  A continued commitment to the highest quality permeates the Plan, which will create an institution of excellence by 2018.

 

Professor Chandra further remarked  that USP does not presume that it is here to solve all of its member countries’ challenges and development issues.  It can, however, promise to deliver Pacific centred education of the highest-quality, which will assist students from member countries to grow into graduates who are able to effectively address their countries’ challenges.   

 

Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands speaking at the launch

“USP has therefore carefully designed this Strategic Plan so that it will produce the type of graduates that we will need in 2018 and beyond.  It will graduate more students at the postgraduate level, who are essential drivers of the growth of our economy,” he added.  

 

The Pro-Chancellor and Chair of USP Council, Mr. Ikbal Jannif said that “the new Strategic Plan covers two trienniums, builds on the commitments and accomplishments made under its predecessor plan.  This revalidates that USP has the ability to deliver and support the region on key issues facing their development.  In addition to its key priorities relating to learning and teaching, student support, research, regional & community engagement, HR, and governance, a seventh priority of ICT has been added”.  

 

The Pro-Chancellor urged stakeholders to read the new Strategic Plan and see how they can support USP in its endeavour to reach excellence and become an outstanding institution by 2018. 

 

On the Solomon Islands campus,  the Pro-Chancellor said that “the construction of new Solomon Islands Campus has been discussed for a very long time and nothing will please me more than to see this complete during my tenure. With the support of the Prime Minister and his Government I am confident that this will be done. On the part of the University we are very much committed to it”. 

 

The Pro-Chancellor echoed the strong support of the Prime Minister and his Government for the construction of the new USP campus which has contributed greatly to the speed in which administrative matters have been handled.  “He has certainly played a key role in getting us to this point.  I am very grateful for the allocation of such prime land for the new campus”, he added.  

 

The Pro-Chancellor introduced the Prime Minister and congratulated him  and his Government on the establishment of its national university. He  assured them that USP will assist the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in whatever way it can and will work as a partner. 

 

The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo commended USP for the bold step it has taken for the development of a new Campus in Honiara, which is one of the  priorities under the Strategic Plan 2013-2018.   

 

The Prime Minister said that “in the previous plan USP was able to dramatically improve its reputation, governance, and management within three years because all of its work was aligned to the themes of quality, relevance, and sustainability. I look forward to observing the transformation that will be achieved during the next six years under the new plan”.  

 

The Prime Minister further added “I am strongly supportive of USP’s intentions to expand its operations in the Solomon Islands.  This is a very positive situation for the many young Solomon Islanders who wish to continue with their studies yet have not been able to afford it because of travel costs, or who felt that they were not qualified.  I understand that USP will be expanding its courses on technical, vocational, and community education, thereby offering another less traditional route to higher education. We therefore look forward to USP to accelerate the development of the new campus and my Government and I will ensure that we provide all the necessary support and assistance during the implementation of the project”

 

The Prime Minister welcomed USP’s leadership of the Association of Heads of Tertiary Institutions of the Pacific.  As SICHE has recently become the Solomon Islands National University(SINU), it stands to benefit from USP’s mentorship.  He hoped that USP will work with various counterparts to provide guidance and advice on governance and quality.

 

The Prime Minister mentioned that although Solomon Islands now has its own university, USP will remain an important institution for higher education for the youths of Solomon Islands. The Prime Minister made it clear that the establishment of SINU does not in any way lessen the support of Solomon Island’s to USP.   

 

Speaking on benefits of USP to Solomon Islands,  the Prime Minister mentioned that “USP can also assist them in providing policy advice and research that will support his  and future government’s efforts to develop new resources-based industries.  USP also has a strong comparative advantage in ICT, which is an area that needs to be developed in the Solomon Islands.  One of our greatest resources is our huge number of young people.  If they can be trained in the use of ICT, then we will have an easier time becoming involved in knowledge-based industries.  USPNet can be used to support our own telecommunications infrastructure, to enable faster and more reliable internet connections”.

 

The Prime Minister congratulated USP and launched the Strategic Plan 2013-2018, praising the plan for providing  a clear path for the development of the University.  

 

A large number of invited guests attended. Among those present were Ministers (Education and Lands), Leader of Opposition, Permanent Secretaries and Senior Government officials, diplomats, SINU Pro-Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, FFA Director General, representative of private sector, USP staff and students. USP Solomon Island students provided cultural performances during the event.