Sixty-four percent of students graduating from the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus this week are women.
They are among a total of 1,199 students, some of whom received their certificates, diplomas, degrees, postgraduate diplomas, Master’s, and PhD’s yesterday, with the final cohort of the university’s October graduation receiving theirs today.
USP Vice-Chancellor and President (VCP), Professor Pal Ahluwalia highlighted that of all those graduating in the three ceremonies, 29% were from the Pacific Technical and Further Education (TAFE) programmes and 38% were awarded from undergraduate programmes.
“I am also extremely pleased to announce that we are awarding 397 postgraduate certificates of which 103 have completed their Master’s,” he said.
The VCP said students from 17 countries were graduating in this Laucala graduation, including eight non-member countries, testifying to the growing international profile and attraction of USP.
The first ceremony was held at the Vodafone Arena yesterday where 103 students from the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean, and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS), 196 students from the School of Business and Management (SBM), 68 students from the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics (STEMP), and 349 students from Pacific Technical and Further Education (TAFE) received their qualifications.
The VCP reminded the graduates that this was a milestone to celebrate the completion of their degrees which was a great personal accomplishment, and also a momentous occasion shared by all their loved ones who had contributed to their success.
“Let us also acknowledge the family and friends, employers, colleagues, and mentors as well as the staff and sponsors who have also played an essential role in the success of each of our graduands. You can all be proud of your efforts towards these amazing individuals’ achievements,” he added.
The third graduation ceremony for the School of Accounting, Finance and Economics (SAFE), School of Law and Social Sciences (SoLaSS), School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education (SPACE) and Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD) will be held today.
