The USP Lautoka Campus launched its three-day Festival of Learning event today (Wednesday, 11th March 2018) with much pomp and grandeur.
Held in commemoration of the university’s 50th milestone anniversary celebrations, the program features four interesting and educational focus group seminars on Climate Change, Education Sector, Corporate Sector and Public Sector as well as the Alumni and Stakeholders Function as well as interesting displays.
The event began with a march starting at Lautoka’s Shirley Park and ending at USP Lautoka Campus in Vidilo Street. The march was led by the Saint Thomas High School band, followed by staff and students of the Campus, Campus Director Dr. Pramila Devi, Vice-President Regional Campuses and Estates and Infrastructure, Dr. Giulio Paunga, USP 50th Anniversary Project Manager Peter Steward and other stakeholders of the Campus.
Following the march, USP’s staff, students and guests participated in the official launching ceremony of the Festival of Learning, held in the Campus. This included the cutting of USP’s 50th Anniversary themed cake.
USP Lautoka Campus Director, Dr. Pramila Devi warmly welcomed everyone to the launch and thanked the staff and students for coming out in numbers for the march.
Dr. Devi noted that over the past fifty (50) years the University had achieved a lot and established itself as a premier tertiary education provider in the Pacific. She said that it is a proud moment for the University to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and considered the occasion even more special as she is also an alumnus of USP.
In launching the 50th Anniversary celebration for Lautoka Campus, Dr. Paunga, congratulated the Campus Director, staff and students of Lautoka Campus for this historic achievement.
Dr. Paunga informed everyone that all fourteen (14) Campuses were celebrating the 50th anniversary of USP with the theme “Celebrating the Pacific, Shaping its Future.”
He stated that even though Pacific Island countries are small in size, the University was spread across thirty-three (33) million square kilometers across the Pacific Ocean. “Despite the smallness of our islands, we are all here, and we are all here for a purpose, which is to provide assistance in the development of our own Pacific Island Countries, no matter which of these countries you come from,” he noted.
He emphasised that the twelve-member countries of the University were celebrating the 50th Anniversary in a big way because he added that most of the lead thinkers of these countries were graduates of USP.
The launch was followed by a tour of the Campus for viewing of public displays that included information on the Campus’ establishment, achievements and growth over the past two decades of its existence.
There were also very creative and colourful displays by USP Lautoka’s Pacific Technical and Further Education (TAFE) that comprised of its two major sections, namely the Early Childhood Education section and the Tourism and Hospitality section.
Other displays included the Student Academic Services (SAS), the Student Learning Services (SLS), Confucius Institute (CI) at USP Lautoka, USPSA Lautoka, the Campus’ Library, Continuing and Community Education’s Caregiving display.
