USP will celebrate 50th anniversary with theme: Celebrating the Pacific, Shaping its Future.

While 2018 is just another year for some, it is a special one for The University of the South Pacific (USP) because it marks its 50 years of existence since its establishment in 1968.

There is much to be celebrated about the regional institution, which the university has encompassed in the anniversary’s overarching theme of “Celebrating the Pacific, Shaping its Future”. USP is the epitome of Pacific people’s vision and hope and has contributed immensely to the development of human resources in the region by producing quality graduates, who are contributing at different levels in their communities and countries.

It has not only responded to the needs of the region but also prepared its people for new opportunities and challenges.

The founders of the university had a firm commitment to quality even in the planning of the university as can be seen in this extract from the Morris Report of 1966: “In our conception of such a university we have in our minds two main principles, both of which we hold to be of cardinal importance. The first is that in the whole field of higher education, whether in degree courses or diploma courses, the highest quality must be ensured in teaching and in student achievement…” (p.24).

The university has remained true to this commitment and expectation. The university now enjoys an excellent reputation not only in the region but internationally, and the quality of the university’s programme is vouched for by an increasing number of international accreditations.

Five decades on, the university has much to be proud of as it commemorates its golden jubilee celebrations this year from February to December.

Making education and learning resources available to the Pacific people across its 12-member countries has not only contributed to the development of the region, but has also raised the standards of living for individuals who have been part of the university’s legacy and are now its proud alumni. Some of the events to mark the celebrations include the 50th anniversary launch, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Memorial, Travelling Exhibition, Research Seminar Series, ‘Talking to the Ancestors’ Exhibition, Song Launch, Library Focus Week, ‘We are the Ocean’ Heritage & Arts Festival, ‘Living Objects’ Exhibition, Mural Opening, Open Day, a Mana: Voyaging Oceania Performance, Research Week, Library Quiz Night, ‘Our Sea of Islands’ symposium, Plaques unveiling, Souvenir Book Launch, ‘Sails’ Exhibition, USP 2019-2024 Strategic Plan launch, International Conference on Oceans/Climate Nexus, and Vice-Chancellor’s closing dinner, among many others, which can be sighted on 50.usp.ac.fj

USP will celebrate its achievements, member countries, students, alumni, development partners and other stakeholders throughout 2018.

The university invites all its stakeholders to be part of the year-long celebrations across its 14 campuses and engage in the many activities that are instore for the university’s 50th Anniversary festivities.

USP is also calling on its alumni to contribute to the University’s Alumni Fund, to enable funding of special projects from the interest earned in the future.