Page 19 - IB July 2018

Five Decades of USP’s

Governance & Leadership

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is the
premier institution of higher learning for the Pacific,
uniquely placed in a region of extraordinary physical,
social and economic diversity and challenges to serve
the region’s need for high quality tertiary education,
research and policy apart from being a tertiary
institution. It also serves as an organisation of regional
cooperation and integration.
It is jointly owned and governed by twelve (12)
Member Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The
University has campuses in all Member Countries, with
Fiji having three (3) Campuses.
The main Campus and headquarters is at Laucala,
in Fiji. The Alafua Campus in Samoa is where the
School of Agriculture and Food Technology is situated,
and the Emalus Campus in Vanuatu is the location for
the School of Law. The Academic and Administrative Staff of USP in 1968.
The Royal Charter and Statutes form the overriding Students Association, and there is provision for
governance instruments of the University. It is governed Council and governments of the region. The Council a third [Statute 11 (l) (c) (iii)]. The Interim Council
also sought the views of the staff of the University.
by its own Council, which includes representatives of did not agree to student representation on Senate,
the Member Country Governments, staff and student The drafting of the Charter was undertaken by Dr. however, the Council, during its meeting in 1971
representatives, and community and business leaders, Colin Aikman, the first Vice-Chancellor of USP, with provided for this representation of one (1) student
the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Australia the assistance of New Zealand University Grants from each of the three (3) Schools (now Faculties)
and New Zealand. Committee. [Statute (1) 9c) (ii)]
The Council and the Senate are served by a network The final draft of the Charter and accompanying
of standing committees as well as Joint Committees of documents were approved by Her Majesty Queen • Since it was quite challenging to bring together
a large Council that included representatives
the Council and Senate in key areas. Elizabeth II, on the advice of her Privy Council, on 4 from inside and outside the region, the Council
The ceremonial head of the University is the February 1970 and received the Royal Assent on 10 is given wider powers of delegation. An Executive
Chancellor. USP’s Chancellors are normally Heads of February, the same year. Committee of Council, with regional representation,
States. The Pro-Chancellor is Chair of Council, and the This was followed by a unique occasion in the was established. The Council can delegate any of its
Executive Head of the University is the Vice-Chancellor University’s calendar, the personal presentation of the powers to this Committee or to any other committee
and President. Charter by the Queen herself during a ceremony at the (Statute 14).
Laucala Campus on 5 March 1970.
Ms. Masiofo Fetauimalemau Mata’afa of Western
THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL & Samoa (now Samoa), the first Pro-Chancellor of USP THE CHARTER AND
SENATE received and acknowledged the Charter. STATUTES
The Charter and Statutes follow English and New
The Council is the governing body of the University. It Zealand precedents. The Chancellor is, in accordance The Charter of the University (the Charter)
exercises all powers conferred on the University by the with English practice, a “titular head of the University”, established the University. The primary purpose of the
Charter, subject to the powers, duties and functions which is an honorific status. University is to maintain, advance and disseminate
conferred upon it by the Statutes. It has general Chairmanship of the Council is the responsibility knowledge through programmes of study according
control over the conduct of the affairs of the University. to the well-being and needs of the Pacific. The Charter
It also has the custody of the Common Seal and is of the Pro-Chancellor, who is elected by the Council lists twenty-six (26) powers of the University including
responsible for the management and administration and holds office for a term of three (3) years which is the power to provide programmes of study, to grant
of the revenue and property of USP. renewable. The Chancellor holds office for a term of awards for completion of programmes of study, to
one year (Articles 5 & 6 and Part 3).
The Council can add to, amend or repeal the prescribe fees, to raise funds for the University, to
The Schedule to the Charter named His Majesty King
provisions of the Statutes by a Special Resolution as Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga as the first Chancellor. invest and act as a trustee for the University, and to do
all such acts to further the objectives of the University.
long as such changes are not repugnant to the Charter.
Any changes to the Charter will need to go to the Privy The Charter makes the University responsible for: The Charter creates the offices of the University
Council for approval with final assent by Her Majesty. “The maintenance, advancement and dissemination including the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, the Vice-
The Council makes Ordinances to direct and regulate of knowledge by teaching, consultancy and research Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellors and other
the University and its authorities and members. and otherwise, for the provision at appropriate levels officers as appropriate.
The Council meets twice a year normally in May and of education and training responsive to the well-being Furthermore, the Charter established the Council
November, with the Executive Committee meeting at and needs of the communities of the South Pacific.” of the University to exercise general control over the
least four (4) times a year to facilitate the oversight well-being and conduct of University affairs conferred
and operations of the University. Some provisions in the Charter, which are of by the Charter and the Statutes. It also establishes
Furthermore, the Senate is the chief academic particular interest include: the Senate as the academic oversight and regulatory
authority of the University, responsible for all • The University is to have the power, “to affiliate, body. Both the Council and the Senate can delegate
academic matters, including quality. It exercises the associate with or co-operate with other institutions their powers, duties and functions to committees or
powers, duties and functions conferred by the Charter or bodies...” and “to enter into any agreement for employees of the University.
and Statutes to promote excellence in teaching, the incorporation in the University of any other The Statutes of the University (the Statutes)
consultancy, research and other academic work of the institutions or body and for taking over the rights, provides inter- alia for the constitution, powers, duties
University. properties, liabilities and engagements thereof.” and functions of both the Council and the Senate. Part
[Article 4 (l) and (m)] four (4) of the Statutes provides for the Council and its
• The Council may “comment or make committees including membership and its terms of
DRAFTING OF THE CHARTER recommendations on any Regulations relating reference. There are twenty-six (26) powers, duties and
OF THE UNIVERSITY to any programme or course of study...” for the functions of the Council including a catch-all provision
consideration of the Senate, which is the chief
that the Council is empowered to exercise all powers,
One of the decisions of the Interim Council during academic authority of the University [Statutes 12 (l) duties and functions that are conferred by the Charter
the University’s establishment back in 1968 was (xvii) and 17 (l) (i)]. This and other provisions give and the Statutes.
to seek a Royal Charter, which led to intensive Council more status in academic matters than is The Council and Senate are supported by a network
discussions and correspondence with the British usual in Commonwealth Universities. of Standing Committees as well as Joint Committees
Ministry of Overseas Development, Her Majesty’s Privy • Council includes two (2) representatives of the of the Council and Senate in key areas.
Islands Business, July 2018 19

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