Fiji Sun

USP ‘Outreach Commons’ in Davuilevu, Walu Bay

- WATI TALEBULA Edited by Jonathan Bryce Feedback: wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj Ronald Kumar

University of the South Pacific students no longer have to travel to the main campus in Laucala Bay to access the computer lab. Thanks to the opening of the university’s outreach commons in Walu Bay and the Hexagon Building in Davuilevu, students can now access online services from there.

These two locations were opened on

Wednesday.

USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia said there was a need for this.

“We thought that it would be good to start small, to create a commons where they (USP students) can come rather than going all the way to the main campus,” he said. “The idea is to relieve some of the pressure for our labs in Laucala Bay and to give more opportunit­y to students to be here. “Many of our students live in these corridors and this would be a relief to them, especially when it comes to transporta­tion cost.

“We currently have restrictio­ns and we are making sure that we have social distancing.

Student, Zac, Kataitini, applauded the university for coming up with the idea. “Before, I had to get on two bus before I reached the main campus. Now, I can save money and time because what I can access at the main campus, I can do it right here.” The outreach commons’ opening hours are 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 6pm in the weekends.

 ?? Photo: ?? University of the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia (standing third from left) with students during the opening of the University of the South Pacific Outreach Commons at Hexagon Building in Davuilevu, Nausori on August 5, 2020.
Photo: University of the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia (standing third from left) with students during the opening of the University of the South Pacific Outreach Commons at Hexagon Building in Davuilevu, Nausori on August 5, 2020.

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