April 2010 - Chancellor's Visit to USP

The Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Nauru, the Honorable Marcus Stephen, visited Fiji last week to officiate at the April 2010 Graduation Ceremony for Laucala Campus.

The Chancellor called on the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra at Laucala Campus on Thursday 8 April 2010. The Vice- Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dr Esther Williams and the Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching, Dr Eci Nabalarua, briefed the Chancellor on the graduation and other important developments, including the Strategic Plan 2010-2012 implementation.

The Vice-Chancellor hosted His Excellency to a cocktail in the evening, at the Suva Holiday Inn, which was attended by dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps, Ministers and senior Fiji government representatives and the Senior Management of USP and other staff members. In his speech at the cocktail, Professor Chandra welcomed the Chancellor and highlighted that apart from being a Head of State for his Country and a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Chancellor had a very colorful sporting career as a professional weight lifter, who had won several gold medals at past International meets like the Olympics, Commonwealth and South Pacific games.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that to balance the Chancellor’s success in the sporting arena, his political career was equally impressive. After rising through the ranks of the Bank of Nauru to becoming General Manager, His Excellency launched his political career by running for office, first becoming a member of Nauru’s parliament and then becoming Minister of Finance right up to the point where he ran for the highest office in the land, and has been elected President of the Republic of Nauru, twice consecutively.

On Friday 9 April 2010, in the presence of dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps and other invited guests, the University staff and parents and families, the Chancellor conferred
certificates, diplomas and degrees to over 1200 graduates at the Vodafone Arena. The graduation ceremony was a success and was the second that the Chancellor has officiated. His Excellency’s ‘first’ USP graduation as Chancellor of the University was last September’s Laucala Campus graduation, where he was also installed or ‘robed’ as Chancellor of USP.

The position of Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific is held for a one year term, by the Head of State of one of the USP 12 member countries, and the position rotates alphabetically by name of the country.

Source:USP media