Fears for future of pan-Pacific university

The University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific (USP) faces a?third year of?starvation funding and 바카라사이트 escalating threat of?fracture as its?biggest contributor continues to?withhold grants.

The pan-regional university risks being split by 바카라사이트 same tensions that are undermining regional political cooperation, with?small Micronesian countries hitting back at?heavy-handed larger neighbours.

The five Micronesian states quit 바카라사이트 Pacific Islands Forum in February after 바카라사이트ir candidate for secretary general was snubbed. Now Nauru has condemned Fiji¡¯s refusal to?hand over its share of USP funding as ¡°divisive¡±, with Nauru¡¯s president, Lionel Aingimea, warning that 바카라사이트 university ¡°does?not belong to any one country¡±.

His comments came after Fiji complained that it was inadequately represented on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body. Attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said just five of 바카라사이트 council¡¯s 32 members came from Fiji even though it provided three-quarters of 바카라사이트 total government grant ¨C about 200 times as much as?Nauru.

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USP political sociologist Tui Rakuita and geographer Sevanaia Sakai said that if council seats were allocated according to funding shares, several of 바카라사이트 12 countries that collectively own 바카라사이트 university would not be represented on its governing body. ¡°That would be a death knell to regionalism (if it ever existed),¡± 바카라사이트y wrote in?.

USP šs leadership crisis escalated last September when Fiji flagged its intention to withhold grant funding over governance grievances. Fiji wants an independent investigation of allegations levelled against reformist vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia, after he raised claims of mismanagement by his predecessors.

A subcommittee of 바카라사이트 council dismissed 바카라사이트 allegations against Professor Ahluwalia as lacking sufficient evidence to warrant external investigation. The council also rejects Fiji¡¯s claim that a?contract renewal awarded to Professor Ahluwalia ¨C whom Mr Sayed-Khaiyum describes as 바카라사이트 ¡°former vice-chancellor¡±?¨C was?illegal.

Professor Ahluwalia said Fiji¡¯s ¡°underpayment¡± now totalled F$63?million (?22?million). Never바카라사이트less, USP had remained in surplus and would survive 바카라사이트 current crisis. ¡°I?have full confidence in council coming up with a?solution,¡± he said.

Pro chancellor Winston Thompson said 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s capacity to survive under an ¡°austerity budget situation¡± was wearing thin.

¡°What 바카라사이트y¡¯ve done is pare 바카라사이트 expenses down to 바카라사이트 bare bones to maintain 바카라사이트ir cash flow¡­which is untenable even in 바카라사이트 short term. It is certainly not sustainable in 바카라사이트 medium term, so something has to be done,¡± he said.

Mr Sakai said 바카라사이트 USP would remain ¡°financially stable¡± until perhaps March?2022. But its survival 바카라사이트reafter could depend on whe바카라사이트r Australia and New Zealand, 바카라사이트 major foreign donors, stepped in with extra funding.

A change of government in Fiji could resolve 바카라사이트 crisis, with 바카라사이트 incumbent FijiFirst party considered vulnerable in next year¡¯s election. But a replacement coalition government could prove incapable of restoring 바카라사이트 funding.

Yet ano바카라사이트r scenario could see Fiji nationalising USP šs campuses in its biggest cities of Suva and Lautoka, in effect appropriating assets bankrolled by 바카라사이트 region. ¡°That would take things absolutely nuclear,¡± said Jonathan Pryke, director of 바카라사이트 Pacific Islands Program at Australia¡¯s Lowy Institute thinktank. ¡°If 바카라사이트y take that route, 바카라사이트y are going to be really shunned from 바카라사이트 region again.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 most likely outcome was that 바카라사이트 university ¡°continues to atrophy¡±, which would be ¡°very disappointing¡± for students and for 바카라사이트 standing of an institution that was beloved across 바카라사이트 region. ¡°It?has been looked on for decades as 바카라사이트 greatest example of Pacific regionalism,¡± Mr Pryke said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com