The University of the South Pacific (USP) – Samoa Campus hosted over a thousand students from various colleges in Upolu at its annual Open Day at Alafua Campus on Thursday 15 August. The event was held with the theme “Shaping Pacific Futures”.
For most of these students, the Open Day was a pivotal moment to receive information and make decisions on study pathways to future careers.
The event started with an invocation by PhD student in Agriculture, Sateki Fangupo, preceding the opening remarks by the USP-Samoa Campus Director—Afioga Tootoooleaava, Dr Fanaafi Aiono Le-Tagaloa.
In true fashion as an educator, lawyer and a chief of Samoa, the Campus Director reminded all students of their collective representation of Samoa in its entirety in terms of honour and prestige at the Open Day event, something innate to them as heirs of Samoa.
As such, she insisted, nothing USP could ever say or do would detract from their inherent right and worth as true carriers of the honour and esteem of Samoa.
The Campus Director also impressed upon the students the importance of Open Day, reminding them: “You are here to find your future”, highlighting the fact that “education opens doors to a prosperous future”.
She also paid tribute to students who could not participate in the Open Day due to the schools’ Zone Games, proclaiming that games and sports were other important avenues and pathways to future prosperity. In closing, the Campus Director resorted to the vernacular in declaring: “E fa’afeao oe e le poto.” (Knowledge leads to recognition or success), urging all students to “choose wisely” as life is about choices.
A key feature of the Open Day was the Tour to 17 destinations on Campus, each showcasing its specific role or purpose on campus. Together, these stops presented a total picture of USP’s offerings from its campuses, including Samoa Campus.
Students engaged in interactive demonstrations and quizzes for prizes at certain locations. There were display booths featuring products and services of the Campus’ community partners, sponsors, and stakeholders.
Other highlights included cultural performances showcasing the multicultural diversity of USP, by students from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Niue, Tonga, Tokelau and Samoa.
These performances were interspersed with impromptu student dance competitions for exciting prizes. The Day closed with prizegiving and closing remarks by Nau Bloomfield, the Samoa Campus Accountant and Open Day Chair 2024.
The Open for Savaii Centre will take place on Friday August 23, and is expected to be attended by 500 or more exiting students from Savaii-based colleges. This is in addition to the teachers, USP sponsors and community members who will attend this important annual USP event.
More than 50% of Colleges in Savaii have confirmed participation. The activities that took place at the Open Day on the Campus in Alafua will be repeated in Savaii on a smaller scale, given the smallness of the physical space provided at the Centre. The Open Day will be presided over by the Campus Director and staff.
