The Fiji Government created history last week by deporting the vicechancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia of the University of South Pacific (USP).
A group of public servants recklessly entered the house of the most senior figure in Fijian higher education. This of course has happened one day before the USP Council meeting. Pro Ahluwalia despite this incident was very respectful by saying that the people who escorted him to the airport apologised.
Indeed, the public servants have only acted based on orders received from the top. The Council meeting on Friday witnessed the attendance of the Attorney- General, who is not a member of USP Council.
The A-G was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Heritage and Arts, Rosy Akbar and her permanent secretary (both are members of the university Council).
The Fiji Parliament this week ruled out an open debate on the issue which is dominating discussions in Fiji and other Pacific Islands countries.
Prof Ahluwalia identified mismanagement of university funds and many unethical practices, and he was on track to clean up the mess — a mess coupled with a toxic culture left by former management of the university. The USP executive committee of which Minister Akbar is a member suspended the vice-chancellor recently.
It later realised that the suspension of the VC was illegitimate. There is no doubt that the member countries, students, parents, alumni and donors are frustrated with the actions over the past 12 months. Fiji opposition leaders have described the deportation of the VC as a cowardly act.
They have rightly stated that the Fiji Government does not own the university. Similar to other public universities in the world, USP is governed by a Council that is its highest body to make decisions about governance, strategy, risk and financial management.
It is the Council that hires, and performance manages the Vice-chancellor. Never in the history of Fiji have governments interfered into the governance and management of universities.
The current Fiji Government seems to take it for granted that because the USP head office is based in Fiji it is therefore entitled to intervene in the university’s dayto- day affairs.
The Government also fails to recognise that USP is funded by other member countries who have a voice in the governance and management of the university.
This act by the Fiji Government intrudes on academic autonomy and freedom of universities.
The government has a history of intruding on academic freedom with some prominent academics. As the university gears up for 2021 teaching staff, students and the community are upset and depressed with the actions of the government. Social media posts and comments point fingers at the Attorney-General and the Prime Minister.
Mr Narube and Professor Prasad stated correctly that the action of the government will affect student learning at a time when students need more support.
The public has the right to know why the VC was deported and on what grounds he was “causing instability”.
A university’s role is to educate citizens, bring new knowledge and discovery, and create a civic society. How do we explain to university students and ordinary citizens the reasons for the deportation of the vice-chancellor?
Was he deported because he was trying to weed out the people and strengthen university policies and processes to eliminate corruption and mismanagement? Or did the Government deport him because it feared some people connected to it being exposed? USP is the first regional university in the South Pacific.
It has a long and proud history of producing the best graduates, many of whom are prominent figures in public service and private sector organisations.
USP has for many years positioned itself as the centre of higher education excellence in the Pacific. It has had a long-standing relationship with member countries and its key donors.
The member countries have truly cooperated with the USP and Fiji Government and respected its role in educating students to meet the needs of Fiji and beyond.
The current actions of the Fiji Government jeopardise its relationship with member countries.
The Council needs to resolve these issues to regain trust from the member countries and other stakeholders. The solution is quite simple. The USP Council needs to weed out those individuals, including members in the Council, who are destabilising the USP management.
The Council needs to undertake due diligence of current and future Council members. The Council with the Vicechancellor need to appoint key senior members to fill the vacant roles who can support the Vice-chancellor in achieving the Council’s vision and strategy for the university.
Most importantly, the Fiji Government needs to respect the University Council and its role in the governance and management of the University.
The government needs to support the university in eliminating all forms of corruption rather than creating further instability.
The university must focus on delivering its core business of teaching, research and supporting student learning.
Given tertiary education is under Minister Akbar, she needs to step up and point out where things are morally and ethically wrong.
Our religions teach us that God is most forgiving and merciful — I hope that the Fiji Government will whole-heartily apologise to Pro Ahluwalia and the university community.
The failure of the FijiFirst party on this subject would be the turning point towards the 2022 election.
MAHSOOD SHAH is a Professor and Dean at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. The views expressed in this article are his own and not the university or this newspaper. Readers can contact him at shah_mahsood@hotmail. com
