Minister of Education Aseri Radrodro today told Parliament the University of the South Pacific had voiced its strong reservations on the findings of an External Review Committee’s (ERC) report thatwascommissioned by the Higher Education Commission.
Mr Radrodro said the ERC praised USP for integrating practical components into its programs, such as industrial attachments in engineering, tourism, and hotel management, as well as guest lectures by industry professionals.
The committee highlighted USP’s international accolades, including the 2024 re-accreditation of its tourism and hospitality management program by the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education.
“Despite these strengths, the ERC identified critical areas needing reform. The committee found that curricula in many programs are outdated and fail to address the evolving post-COVID educational landscape, particularly in balancing online and in-person delivery,” said Mr Radrodro.
The ERC recommended that USP revise course content and descriptions to better align with industry needs and enhance the practical application of learning.
“It also proposed more frequent external program reviews—every three years for new programs and every five years for existing ones, compared to the current seven-year cycle.”
“To strengthen its academic profile, the ERC urged USP to enhance collaboration with other institutions, particularly FNU and the University of Fiji, to minimize program duplication and sharpen its unique offerings.”
Mr Radrodro said USP “vehemently disputed the ERC’s findings”, describing the report as methodologically weakl, substantively inconsistent, and professionally inadequate.”
“The university argued that the ERC’s conclusions contradict evaluations from globally respected accreditation agencies and fail to acknowledge USP’s ongoing, externally validated transformation.”
“This reform, USP emphasized, prioritizes student-centered learning, research excellence, regional integration, and institutional resilience.”
Mr Radrodro added USP contended that the ERC report overlooks its strategic initiatives and current efforts to modernize its academic and operational frameworks.
“The university’s leadership expressed confidence in its trajectory, asserting that it is well-positioned to meet the needs of students and the region.”
