The 1991 review of the University of the South Pacific

Abstract

The University of the South Pacific (USP), founded in 1968, was unique in the world. The only comparable university was the University of the West Indies—also established to serve a variety of separated island states. The 12 countries then served by USP covered far greater land and sea areas than the entire West Indies. The University of the South Pacific’s region of 328 inhabited islands has a land area of 62,496 square kilometres, spread over 13,550,000 square kilometres of ocean. These facts alone create unique issues for USP, its staff, students and management. In early 1991, for example, return air tickets between Suva and countries served by USP ranged between F300 and F1500 (AUD195–970). International telephone costs were about F1.60 (AUD1) per minute—so internal communications between staff and extension students could be costly—only diminishing with the development of the internet developed in later years. Show more