USP Celebrates Global No.1 Rankings for Tourism and Hospitality Programmes

The University of the South Pacific (USP) has achieved global recognition for its excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education, earning the No. 1 ranking in 12 categories on the THE-ICE Etio International Student Satisfaction Global Index 2024.

The accolade was announced during the 17th THE-ICE International Panel of Experts (IPoE) Forum, held in Doha, Qatar, from 7–9 November 2024.

USP’s Discipline Coordinator for Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dr Vikas Gupta, accepted the award, which highlighted the institution’s exceptional performance among 47 institutions across 21 countries.

The rankings were based on feedback from 17,949 international and 77,906 domestic students under the Global International Student Barometer and Student Barometer (ISBSB).

USP outperformed its global peers in the following categories:

• Overall Satisfaction

• Recommendation

• Overall Happiness

• Career Goal Preparation

• Employability

• Opportunities for work experience

• Making friends from this country

• Student Advisory Service

• Health Centre

• Employment/Careers Support: Training

• Employment/Careers Support: Placement

The recognition underscores USP’s commitment to delivering world-class education in line with its Strategic Plan 2022–2024.

THE-ICE (International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education) is a global organisation specialising in accreditation, benchmarking, and quality enhancement in tourism, hospitality, events, and culinary arts education with a network of 35 members in 19 countries across four continents. USP has been an accredited member since 2018.

Dr Craig Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of THE-ICE, praised USP’s achievement, stating, “The results for USP were genuinely outstanding, and it is rare to see an institution achieve so many No. 1 rankings.”

Dr Vikas Gupta attributed the success to the dedication of USP’s students, faculty, and programmes.

“Achieving the No. 1 ranking in 12 global categories is a testament to our commitment to delivering education that equips graduates with the skills to excel in the global tourism and hospitality industry,” he said.

USP’s Tourism and Hospitality programmes, offered through the Discipline of Tourism and Hospitality Management and Pacific TAFE, have 14 programmes that span from certificate to PhD levels and have been reaccredited by THE-ICE for another five years, starting June 2024.

Additionally, graduates from THE-ICE accredited programmes can obtain THE-ICE Diploma Supplement, a credential that enhances their employability by certifying their completion of an internationally recognised programme.

Head of the School of Business and Management, Professor Gurmeet Singh, also congratulated the team, stating that this achievement reflects the hard work and excellence of USP’s Tourism and Hospitality discipline.

USP is now welcoming applications from prospective students who wish to start or resume their studies next year.

The University of the South Pacific is an ideal institution for anyone who wish to pursue studies in Tourism and Hospitality as it is recognised globally and ranked number one internationally for its excellence in producing work-ready graduates. Interested students can visit our website at www.usp.ac.fj to explore our wide range of internationally accredited programmes from our six schools and two centres. Apply Now at www.usp.ac.fj/apply