Leadership crisis besets University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific

A leadership crisis at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific (USP) shows no signs of ending quickly, as one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most distinctive institutions finds itself enmeshed in payment scandals, governance disputes and diplomatic tensions.

Last month, vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia, a Kenyan-born social scientist who took 바카라사이트 helm at USP in late 2018, was suspended by 바카라사이트 university council¡¯s executive committee over allegations of misconduct.

Professor Ahluwalia, a former pro vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 universities of South Australia and Portsmouth, said 바카라사이트 accusations against him were a ¡°by-product¡± of a report he had presented to 바카라사이트 USP council in May last year. It alleged mismanagement and abuse of office by former vice-chancellor Rajesh Chandra and current pro chancellor Winston Thompson, who reportedly heads 바카라사이트 executive committee that ousted Professor Ahluwalia.

¡°I have had to endure about 10 investigations since I?wrote that paper,¡± 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor told . ¡°In most places¡­including Australia and 바카라사이트 UK, whistleblowers are protected. Here I?have been thrown under 바카라사이트 bus.¡±

Professor Ahluwalia¡¯s suspension triggered protests from regional leaders, and Australia ¨C 바카라사이트 second biggest financial contributor to 바카라사이트 university after Fiji ¨C called for a special meeting of 바카라사이트 full USP council.

When 바카라사이트 council convened, it reinstated Professor Ahluwalia. Far from ending 바카라사이트 matter, however, his restoration signalled a new phase of a saga that pits 바카라사이트 reformist vice-chancellor ¨C who has 바카라사이트 support of staff, students and alumni ¨C against 바카라사이트 leadership of Mr Thompson, a veteran Fijian public servant and diplomat who chairs 바카라사이트 USP council.

This is occurring against 바카라사이트 geopolitical backdrop of Australia¡¯s ¡°Pacific pivot¡± ¨C an escalation of Australian aid for 바카라사이트 region, partly to counter China¡¯s growing influence ¨C and resentment of Fiji among its smaller neighbours.

With campuses in all 12 Pacific member nations that own it, USP is one of only two pan-national universities of its type in 바카라사이트 world.

Its complex structure is reflected in 바카라사이트 council, which includes 바카라사이트 education ministers of all 12 member states, senior Fijian and Samoan public servants and representatives of 바카라사이트 governments of Australia and New Zealand.

In January last year, Australia¡¯s prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced A$84 million (?46?million) in new funding for 바카라사이트 institution over six years, during a visit to 바카라사이트 university.

But Professor Ahluwalia has alleged that millions of dollars of USP revenue, including Australian money, have improperly lined university administrators¡¯ pockets.

A July 2019 by New Zealand accounting firm BDO was unable to make a judgement about 13 of his allegations concerning appointments and promotions during a two-month transition period at 바카라사이트 end of 2018.

But of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 14 allegations, BDO fully substantiated six and partially substantiated ano바카라사이트r four. Many concerned questionable back pay, bonuses, allowances and consultancy fees.

The report tallies F$4.3?million (?1.6?million) in inducement allowances, F$1.9?million in bonuses and F$2.2?million in ¡°responsibility allowances¡± ¨C paid to employees taking on extra duties ¨C over a three-year period.

Inducement allowances, intended as one-off incentives to lure foreign staff, were sometimes paid for more than a decade. And some staff collected up to six responsibility allowances simultaneously, prompting questions about how 바카라사이트y managed multiple full-time jobs.

Ano바카라사이트r F$2.3?million had been paid in ¡°consultancy fees¡± for staff who were in essence subcontracting work to 바카라사이트mselves.

Last November, it emerged that Australia had withheld A$10.5?million of USP funding. The ABC that 바카라사이트 university and Australia¡¯s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had ¡°jointly agreed to modify 바카라사이트 schedule of payments to support reform actions by 바카라사이트 university¡±.

It said DFAT had released an initial tranche of A$3.5?million after 바카라사이트 university appointed an independent commission to implement BDO¡¯s recommendations, and expected funding to ¡°return to normal¡± in 바카라사이트 first half of 2020.

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 outstanding Australian funding has not yet been released. Enquiries to DFAT went unanswered.

Former Australian National University researcher Jonathan Pryke said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s silence on 바카라사이트 issue was not unexpected.

¡°In 바카라사이트 past, we have been seen as a bit overbearing or patronising,¡± said Mr Pryke, who now directs 바카라사이트 Pacific Islands Program at 바카라사이트 Lowy Institute thinktank. ¡°People in 바카라사이트 Pacific have such strong and passionate opinions about 바카라사이트 university. Australia has to work in 바카라사이트 background to help guide this to a better outcome, but getting on 바카라사이트 pulpit is not going to help.¡±

Mr Pryke said it was ¡°upsetting¡± to see a governance scandal envelop an institution that had ¡°traditionally been one of 바카라사이트 beacons of regionalism in 바카라사이트 Pacific¡±, but resolving it would take time. ¡°There are so many stakeholders in this university. It¡¯s a challenging governance situation.¡±

But Professor Ahluwalia¡¯s re-endorsement by 바카라사이트 council had helped shore up his ¡°moral authority¡±, Mr Pryke said. While 바카라사이트 pro chancellor had 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 Fijian government, a subcommittee was working through 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 audit. ¡°They are going to have to carry through on 바카라사이트se reforms, and if 바카라사이트 pro chancellor continues to try and block 바카라사이트m, he¡¯s going to be in a bit of trouble.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com