Head of State to be installed Chancellor of University of the South Pacific

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 10 AUGUST 2022: Samoa’s Head of State, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II will be installed as the 29^th Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific this Friday – twelve years since Samoa last held the post.

USP Vice-president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia and USP’s Samoa Centre Director, Tootoooleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono – Le Tagaloa proudly announced today the appointment of His highness which they emphasized, Samoa should take with pride.

The Chancellorship installation will be the opening ceremony of the University’s graduation ceremony this Friday where a group of senior Samoans will graduate with Masters in Business Administration among the 270 graduates from the region.

“It’s a very significant event and even bigger for Samoa because never in the history has a regional campus had both the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor at the same location,” said Prof. Ahluwalia who is now based at the Alafua campus following his removal from Fiji by the Government.

The Head of State’s term as Chancellor commenced on 01 July 2022 and will conclude on 30 July 2023.

The chancellorship of the regional University rotates every year.

This year, the Pro-Chancellor of USP, Hon. Hilda Heine from Marshall could not attend the ceremony to conduct the installation of the Chancellor and the appointment will be installed by Samoa’s Minister of Education, Seuula Tuuaga Ioane.

Niue held the latest chancellorship which ended on the 30^th of June 2022.

The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Vaaleto’a Sualauvi 11’s five year term has been extended by the government and his appointment will go through Parliament later this month.

Asked whether this may affect the Chancellor’s appointment should the position of the Head of State may change, the Vice-Chancellor said the process selection is not the person but the institution.

“We will respect whatever the Government tells us,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ahluwalia encouraged the USP graduates for Friday to take pride in this opportunity, being able to receive their degrees and certificates from the Head of State.

“There’s a lot of pride in having students receive their degrees from the Head of State and the respect for that position adds so much stratum for the University and the pride for Samoan students,” he said.