The National Federation Party says the ranking of the University of the South Pacific in the top 10 percent of universities in the world by the highly influential Times Higher Education world rankings for 2022 is a monumental achievement for USP and its member states.
In a statement, NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says Fiji is privileged to host USP’s main campus and to benefit from the intellectual energy and economic activity USP creates.
He says the relationship between Fiji and USP will endure, long after the FijiFirst Government and its juvenile attacks on USP have gone into the dustbin of history.
Professor Prasad says future Fijian governments have before them the chance to work closely with USP, not against it. He says we can use USP’s huge stores of skills and knowledge to improve the lives of our people and to compete in the global knowledge-based economy.
He further says if USP is allowed to apply itself to Fiji’s and the region’s problems, USP itself will develop new knowledge and experience.
The NFP Leader says as Fiji faces multiple crises of health, economics and leadership, USP’s good news offers us a short moment to celebrate.
Professor Prasad says this is an outstanding tribute to USP’s leaders including current Vice Chancellor and President of USP Professor Pal Ahluwalia, staff and students, past and present.
He says USP is still a young university by many standards - barely 50 years old and is one of only two universities in the world owned by multiple governments.
Professor Prasad says USP member countries are small island states, spread across wide and challenging physical distancesa, and still USP continues to rise and thrive.
He says he feels very proud of this achievement, having had over three decades of involvement with USP as a student, teacher, researcher and administrator.
