The 76th University of the South Pacific Council meeting to discuss the affairs of the region's university will be held in Nuku'alofa on May 15-16.

The council, the highest governing body of the university which normally meets twice a year, held an induction session for new council members and a briefing on its finance this afternoon. The meeting will be opened by Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano on May 15 at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre.

A Council Workshop on the Fiji Crimes Decree and its possible liabilities for Council members are among important issues that will be discussed in a closed session tomorrow morning.

Tonga's Queen Nanasipau'u will launch a Study on Tongan Youth Diabetes Report on Thursday, May 16.

Attending the meeting is Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council Mr Ikbal Jannif; USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rajesh Chandra; Deputy Chair of Council Fekita 'Utoikamanu; and members of the council including Professor Konai Helu Thaman, and Pacific Education Ministers.

Strategic Plan

Yesterday, May 13 Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano launched the university's Strategic Plan 2013-18, which outlined its planned development over the next six-years.

Professor Chandra said the new plan has greater and stronger focus on identifying regional campuses for significant development, placing more emphasis on postgraduate studies and regionally relevant research plans to make the university more entrepreneurial and enhance its role as an exemplary institution.

Mr Jannif said the aim of the university is to turn itself into a university of excellence by 2018 in line with its Strategic Plan. He said the development of regional campuses has high priority under the plan and he thanked the Tongan Government for giving an additional 14-acres of land for the USP Tonga campus for which development plans are currently being drawn up.