Fiji’s President officially launches USP’s 50th Anniversary
His Excellency Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konusi Konrote, President of the Republic of Fiji and USP Chancellor during
his address.
The past fifty (50) years have been a period of tremendous change for USP and the young people today enjoy more
opportunity in education than ever before in our history.
This was the sentiment of His Excellency Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konusi Konrote, President of the Republic of Fiji
and USP Chancellor during the official launch of the University’s 50th Anniversary at its Laucala Campus on 5 February
2018.
USP, H.E Konrote said, has been a steadfast partner to the Fijian Government in widening the reach of the Fijian
education system and fielding a more competitive and talented Fijian workforce.
“When the Fijian Government first considered the possibility of establishing a regional university based in Fiji in the
mid-sixties, I am sure no-one realised that it would grow to become the centre for learning excellence that it is
today,” H.E. Konrote said.
According to H.E Konrote, the Fijian Auditor General provided oversight of USP’s finances which greatly alleviated the
need for the University to engage costly external services, in the early years of the University.
The Government of Fiji, he noted also appreciated the need for the University to be autonomous and it therefore granted
visas and work permits to allow overseas academics to assist with the growth of USP.
“These initiatives, which were over and above the usual levels of commitment seen in other similar nations, showed the
willingness of the Fijian Government to assist the growth of the University and contributed greatly to the rapid
expansion of USP,” he said.
H.E Konrote stated that USP was in a sense, one of the earliest experiments in regional co-operation and its founders
wanted education to be accessible to all parts of the Pacific Islands.
He added that in each of the member nations, USP’s footprint has contributed to a significant widening of access to
higher education and through it, aspirational opportunities for development that had never existed before.
H.E Konrote mentioned that the University has prospered through an understanding that all the cultures of our member
nations needed to be recognised and nurtured, and that countries gained greater total benefits from collaboration and
partnerships that overcame their smallness and isolation.
This he said, provided the initial basis for these countries to come together - building on unity from our diversity.
“The University’s thoughtful attention to the needs of all member countries ensures that all member countries have
remained staunch supporters of the University. This strong sense of ownership, unwavering financial support, and the
University’s growing reputation and success in its regional work has led USP, being widely recognised as the best
example of regional cooperation,” he further stated.
The University, he added, has trained the majority of Pacific leaders and its alumni are heads of state, senior
government officials and leaders of industry throughout the Pacific and beyond.
He also said that these leaders, many of whom lived and studied together during their time at USP, were exposed to an
environment of understanding and networks based on friendship.
Following the Launch, H.E Konrote together with His Excellency Mr John Feakes, Australian High Commissioner and
Professor Rajesh Chandra, USP’s Vice-Chancellor and President opened a Time Capsule interred by the Australian
Government on 20 August 1997.
The Time Capsule was sealed by the then Australian Foreign Minister, Honourable Alexander Downer and the then Acting
Vice Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra to mark the commencement of construction of the Australia-Pacific Lecture
Theatre then.
It included USP publications, a video cassette from 1997, and was accompanied by a note, which was read by Professor
Chandra during the Time Capsule’s opening.
Present at the launch included Honourable Jean Pierre Nirua, Vanuatu Minister for Education and Training, Honourable
Loau Keneti Sio, Samoan Minister for Education, Mr Winston Thompson Pro-Chancellor and Chair of USP Council; Members of
the University Council, Senate, Executive Committee and Finance and Investment Committee; Excellencies and members of
the Diplomatic Corps; Heads and representatives of Regional and International Organisations; Senior Fijian Government
Officials; Members of the USP Senior Management Team, and staff and students of the University.