The University of the South Pacific (USP) International Office held a reception to welcome the new cohort of international students for Semester 1, 2023.
Students from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia have enrolled to study at USP for Semester 1; this includes groups at USP under respective study tours.
USP Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia briefly shared his experience as an international student whilst at university.
He said, “I, too, was an international student many years ago, and I would like to encourage you all to take in the experience with each activity you find yourself involved in.”
“Many of you may have just left home for the very first time, and regardless of where in the world you are from, your first experience away from your home country is going to be a special and unforgettable one, and there is no better place to have that experience than in the Pacific,” Professor Ahluwalia added.
“As you spend some time here, as I have now, you will discover that our Pacific Islands are extraordinary. The welcome, engagement and love that exudes out of our people have not replicated anywhere.”
Meanwhile, USP Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Regional Campuses and Global Engagements), Dr Giulio Masasso Paunga said, “in the past two months until now, we have received seven study tours.”
He added that these groups ranged from 25 to 100 students; showing the work our team was doing and the great interest from international students to come to USP.
“We also have a cohort of about 25 students from the University of Newcastle, and you will all experience various things here at USP, various cultures in one location,” Dr Paunga added.
Dr Paunga said USP was known as a melting pot for various regional and international cultural groups.
“They include the 12 member countries of USP, as well as cultures from Asia, Europe, Africa and the United States. You are students from various parts of the world here in the Pacific to learn and immerse in the cultural experience that USP has to offer,” he said.
The USP international students and regional and local students began their first semester last week.
Registration of courses for all students continues until Friday, 24 February.
