March
Fix My Food Youth Workshop
Date: 17 – 21 February 2025
Venue: Pearl Resort, Pacific Harbor, Navua
A group of 32 youths, from Fiji and two from the Solomon Islands, along with 10 stakeholders, participated in the workshop. The stakeholders included representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the National Food & Nutrition Centre (NFNC), the Ministry of Youth, the Consumer Council of Fiji, and USP. SAGEONS, USP were represented by Ms. Camari Koto, an alumnus and former VP of the USPSA, Adi Salote Duaibe, and current student, Levani Ditoka. The youths were selected from a list of applicants. Most of them had public health academic backgrounds, a few from the National Youth Council, and also a few high school students who were accompanied by their guardians or parents.
The focus of the workshop was training on youth advocacy and empowerment for activities and campaigns to voice youth concerns on one aspect of the broken food system in Fiji. After discussions and practical activities, the slogan ‘No junk food in Fiji Sports’ was the theme/topic adopted as the basis for the training and future campaign events.
Apart from the Agriculture curriculum at USP, GE202 is a stand-alone course that is an elective for most Geography, Environment, Food Tech, and Education programs. It is titled, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition in the Pacific. The course content includes the kinds of food systems (broken food system), food and nutrition security, nutrition transition – causes and health impacts, policies, and solutions. For USP, there is an opportunity for creating awareness and campaigning by the ‘Fix my Food – Youth Group’ during the annual Open Day. There is also an idea that needs more articulation and discussions, and that is on the possibility of training in such things as ‘Youth Advocacy training’, etc., perhaps with Pacific TAFE.
SAGEONS and STEMP Orientation Semester 1 2025 for USP Samoa Campus was held on Thursday, 20th February 2025, at C2 Classroom. Despite the heavy downpour, our first-year students turned up in numbers. The orientation was opened by the DHoS (Learning, Teaching, and Quality) STEMP Prof. M.G.M. Khan, who introduced the school and the various courses and activities they offer. Likewise, the Acting DHoS (SAGEONS), Associate Professor David Rohindra introduced the school to the new students, the courses available, and the activities the school is involved in. The two DHOSs joined the orientation via Zoom. The next part of the orientation was allocated to the Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology (AFT), with an overview introduction by the Discipline Coordinator, Associate Professor Mohammed Abdul Kader. Other academics who presented at the Orientation included Dr. Sonny Lameta, who spoke on the expected student responsibilities and behavior, and Dr. Leslie Ubaub, who introduced VPE to the students, the AFT Seminar Series, and the importance of attending lectures and tutorials. Dr. Viliame Savou was the MC for the event. A table with information about the schools and takeaway pamphlets was set at the back of the room for students’ use. The orientation concluded with lunch for the staff and students, which was prepared by USP Samoa Campus.
The event was attended by MOA staff, commercial small ruminant and ruminant farmers, as well as representatives from FAO, SPC, Rooster, Goodmen Fielder, FDB, FNU, Pacific Polytech, and Fiji Dairy. USP was represented by the Discipline of Agriculture TA, Gulista Dean, who had the opportunity to brief attendees about the agriculture programs that USP offers. Gulista also made connections with important stakeholders and encouraged them to consider our Agriculture students for their 20-week Vocational Practical Experience (VPE).
In 2024, Prof Gurmeet Singh, Dr. Ketan Kristi, Mr. Anitilu St. John, Assoc. Prof. Md Kader and Dr. Leslie Ubaub submitted a research project to the European Union together with the Fiji National University, National University of Samoa, the National University of Vanuatu, IGOR International, Slovak University of Polytechnic, and Slovak University of Agriculture for funding under the Erasmus + Capacity Building in Higher Education funding framework. The research project was awarded a total budget of 399,924.27€, of which USP will receive € 49,519.60 for a period of three years (December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2027) for its USP component.
A virtual onboarding session was held for all consultants and external academics from SAGEONS/STEMP on the 12th of March at 10 am. The session was chaired by Professor MGM Khan and co-chaired by Associate Professor David Rohindra.
SAGEONS (GESE) staff have been advised to apply for Fire safety warden training and get certified/recertified. The forms were circulated via email, and staff can fill them in and get them approved by HoS for training on 17th April. This is one of the key highlights of USP’s OHS policy that regular training, awareness, and certification are provided to all staff in case of unpredictable incidents in the workplace.
This initiative was put forward by the OHS team
Screenshot of Email invite for EOI in Emergency Warden Training
April
Seminar 1
Professor Dr. (Mrs.) Shobha Y. Bhargava, Emeritus Professor, Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University of India, gave a seminar titled “Secrets of Development: From Embryo to Adult”.
The seminar was held at the SAGEONS SMART Room on Wednesday, 12th of March 2025 from 12 pm-1 pm.
Seminar 2
Dr. Matan Shelomi, Associate Professor of Entomology, National Taiwan University, gave a seminar titled “Insect Farming and the Circular Bioeconomy: Interdisciplinary Opportunities for the Pacific Islands”. The seminar was held on Wednesday, 9th April 2025, from 12 pm – 2 pm at the SAGEONS SMART Room.
Seminar 3
Dr. Joji Tabudravu, Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancanshire, Preston, UK, seminar titled “Chemical Profiling of Anticancer Compounds from Fijian medicinal Plants: Santalum Yasi and Lantana Camara”.
The seminar was held on Thursday, 10th April 2025, from 5 pm – 7 pm at the SAGEONS SMART Room.
Seminar 4
A delegation composed of Chinese zoologists from the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) visited the University of the South Pacific on April 11th, 2025, to promote exchanges and cooperation in zoological research and technological applications across the South Pacific.
2025 April Graduation
Congratulations to our graduating students in Postgraduate and Master’s. Click on the link below for more information.
https://www.usp.ac.fj/usp-sageons/laucala-graduations-day-2025/
Women in STEM Launch
The Women in STEM Society (WISS) Support Programme has been officially launched, aiming to empower the next generation of female leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This initiative connects 35 exceptional first-year female STEM students, providing them with opportunities for continuous skill development, professional mentorship, and practical experience. Women are not merely participants; they are integral to the efforts, actively contributing as engineers, scientists, and innovators who will shape the future of the Pacific. The launch event took place on April 11 at the 4th Year Engineering Lab and was attended by esteemed leaders from the University of the South Pacific, including Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President for Education Professor Jito Vanualailai, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President for Regional Campuses and Global Engagement Dr. Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen, and Professor Bibhya Sharma, Head of the School of Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics (STEMP) as well as the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS). During the event, Chief Guest Professor Pal Ahluwalia underscored the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of women and girls in STEM. The programme will now offer targeted workshops, networking opportunities with industry professionals, and internship sessions to help these 35 talented female students navigate academic challenges, build valuable connections, and cultivate the confidence needed to excel and lead in STEM fields. As the WISS Support Programme develops, it remains committed to promoting inclusive excellence, celebrating achievements, and advancing equity in STEM. Its launch represents a significant regional response to the global movement advocating for greater representation of women and girls in science.
DISCIPLINE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & TECHNOLOGY
The Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology Assembly was held at the C3/C4 lecture theatre at the USP Samoa Campus on Friday, 4th March 2025. The discipline was privileged to have SAGEONS’ Head of School, Professor Bibhya Sharma, present at the assembly. The HoS addressed the AFT staff, shared insights of where the school is heading, and encouraged staff to join USP Samoa Campus on various schools’ outreaches. He also emphasized the importance of keeping up with our health, using the AFT Wellness programs.
At the assembly, DAFT also farewelled one of the DAFT Crops Technicians, Mr. Kennedy Enefatu. Kennedy was with the university for over 9 years and has resigned from USP to pursue a different career.
Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology Seminar Series
The Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology (DAFT) Seminar was conducted on Thursday, April 3, 2025, where undergraduate student research groups presented their respective research proposals for the AG383 course. A total of 10 groups presented their research proposals, with 4 of these groups joining the seminar and presenting via Zoom from Laucala Campus, and the rest of the groups presented on site at Samoa Campus, in the C3 lecture room.
The research topics for AG383 Semester 1, 2025, are summarized below:
Vocational Practical Experience (VPE) Orientation for 100 and 200 level Agriculture students. This is part of the DAFT’s effort to provide lifelong learning opportunities for Agriculture students. This was conducted by Dr. Sanjay Anand and the USP CFL team from Laucala. This was done during the Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology (DAFT) Seminar Series on the 27th of March 2025.
This manual is an output of Ms. Leikitah Naituku, a PhD student in Agriculture candidate, as part of her Future Thinker’s grant funded by ACIAR through the PASS-CR.
Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology (DAFT) Programme Accreditation with the Samoa Qualification Authority (SQA)
The Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology (DAFT) had its Programme Accreditation with the Samoa Qualification Authority (SQA) and the SQA site started on Monday, 7th April, to Wednesday, 9th April 2025. This was at the Samoa Campus, where the Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology is located.
The Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology (DAFT) participated and attended sessions for the WSCUS Accreditation Site Visit at Samoa Campus on Thursday, 17th April 2025.
The SAI Project, funded by the ACIAR, had its 3-day Midterm Review with the field day from 24th March to 26th March 2025.
