NINETY-TWO students from the University of the South Pacific’s Lautoka campus became part of history yesterday as the first graduates of the university’s inaugural Western Division ceremony.

The students, who were mostly from the MBA program, were joined by family and well-wishers at the Girmit Centre.

USP acting vice-chancellor and president Derrick Armstrong said 49 per cent of the graduates were women, which spoke volumes about gender balance in education.

“Seventy-eight per cent of the students are graduating with postgraduate qualifications, including 44 students with Master of Business Administration and one with Masters in Education (MED). Ninety of the graduates are from Fiji while one is from Cook Islands and one from the Solomon Islands.”

While addressing the students, he said the ceremony was the result of their sacrifice and hard work.

“You have worked very hard and persevered, and can rightly feel proud of your achievements.

“Graduations mark the start of a new and wonderful journey in life ahead, growing from the seeds you have sowed during your period at the university.”

Mr Armstrong added the USP Lautoka campus had also achieved a lot over the past five years.

“In the past five years the Lautoka campus has grown steadily around 10 per cent in terms of student enrolment,” he said.