USP Council agrees to initiate process to appoint the University’s next VC and President

In a confidential session, the University of the South Pacific Council has agreed to initiate the process to appoint the University’s next Vice-Chancellor and President.

The USP Council confirms a Joint Committee of Council and Senate has been established to oversee the search.

This marks a key step in ensuring a leadership transition that aligns with the University’s long-term interests.

As the meeting concluded in Auckland, New Zealand, the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Siosiua ‘Utoikamanu says the Council has reaffirmed its belief in USP but belief alone is not enough as the future they face is not ahead of them, it is already here.

The Chair says they must respond with courage, clarity, and unity.

He says this is their opportunity to lead with purpose and to reshape USP so it continues to serve the region for generations to come.

The Pro-Chancellor described the meeting as a moment of reset, which brought together leaders from all twelve member countries to reflect on USP’s future and recommit to its regional mission.

The Pro-Chancellor says this was not just a meeting to govern, it was a chance to pause, reflect, and ask themselves hard questions.

He asks do we still believe in this regional university and if we do, what are we prepared to do to ensure it thrives in the years ahead.

The Council meeting was held with the generous support of the Government of Aotearoa New Zealand and was officially opened by Her Excellency, Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand.

Senior leaders from the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), including their Vice-Chancellors and Council members, also participated in events around the meeting.

The Council also received and endorsed the University’s audited financial statements for 2024, approved salary adjustments for staff at the Tonga, Samoa, and Solomon Islands campuses, and considered a range of academic, student and staff matters. These included approval of a new Bachelor of Arts in Language Technology.