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SOLOMON ISLANDS ASSURES USP OF COMMITMENT TOWARDS QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE REGION

From (L-R) USP Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson,
Acting Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga &
USP Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra

The Solomon Islands Acting Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga has assured the University of the South Pacific (USP) of the Government’s commitment to ensure the University provides quality education in the region.

Mr Maelanga made the assurance at a courtesy meeting with USP’s Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson and Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra in Honiara today.

At the top of their meeting agenda was the Solomon Islands campus and the undersea fiber optic cable project which is important for the provision of ICT services in education.

The two USP heads are currently in Honiara to attend the Solomon Islands USP graduation ceremony this week.

Mr Thompson expressed appreciation towards the Government of Solomon Islands for its ongoing commitment and supports towards the University.

He also informed Mr Maelanga of the signing of project documents between the USP and the ADB this month and tenders for the construction of the USPSI campus are expected to be launched soon.

“Solomon Islands as the second largest member of the USP family need to move rapidly as possible to produce quality training opportunities to improve the human resource needs of the country,” Mr Thompson said.

USP’s Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesch Chandra said the USP is keen to see a quicker development of the undersea fiber optic cable project in Solomon Islands.

He said information communication technology (ICT) makes all learning better by opening up free educational resources to students.

“We want to provide quality education to Solomon Islands and the University is keen to see quicker developments on the fiber optic cable project here in the Solomons to support education services,” Professor Chandra said.

He highlighted that the completion of the USPSI Campus will solve the overcrowding problem at the current USP Honiara campus which affects students learning environment.

With the commitment and assurance by the Solomon Islands Government, the USP and the ADB, the Solomon Islands campus is expected to be completed in 2018.