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 | Graduates at the recent USP graduation ceremony in the Cook Islands. |
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Family, friends, alumni, stakeholders and USP staff gathered at the National Auditorium in Avarua, Cook Islands recently to celebrate the achievements of 15 graduates, two of whom have completed their degrees entirely in-country. The graduation ceremony in the Cook Islands was also the first ceremony for Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Tarr who thanked the Prime Minister, Honourable Jim Marurai, the Cook Islands Government and the people for making the graduation ceremony part of the Cook Islands 40th self-governance celebrations. “It is also a great pleasure to celebrate the achievements of 122 Cook Island graduates of our University who are represented here by the Cook Islands Alumni,” Professor Tarr said. “As we go forward, this University is very much committed to expanding its presence here and throughout the region,” Professor Tarr said. “We have the benefit of USPNet which has enabled us to reach most of the Pacific region in a way that many institutions have not been able to.” The Honourable Jim Marurai told guests that the ceremony was special in that it reflected the ties of historical relations. “The men and women receiving their certificates and the alumni of the University, remind us of this shared history where journeys have been taken from near and far to study, and finally today the opportunity to study at home,” Honourable Marurai said. “We are celebrating a new model of success – the completion of full degrees here in the Cook Islands.” The Cook Islands graduation ceremony marked the special achievements of Mrs Marjorie Crocombe and Mr Lionel Brown who were among the first graduates of USP in 1971, and Ms Taggy Tangimetua and Mr Joe Ngamata who completed their degrees entirely in-country in 2005. “My Government is very keen to develop further the extension of degree programmes to the outer islands with technology that already exists,” Honourable Marurai said. According to Professor Tarr there was scope for a lot more face-to-face teaching and scope for the University to regard itself as a centre for people to travel from elsewhere to come and study, particularly in the area of Pacific studies. “USP will pursue the idea of making the Cook Islands a major study abroad centre for people from the United States, Europe and New Zealand to undertake specialist study, particularly in the area of Pacific studies.” “There is no doubt the potential in this area is enormous and the University I believe, like the Cook Islands in the region, has very important advantages,” Professor Tarr said.
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