The USP Council has reinstated the vice-chancellor who was suspended by the executive committee.
The Council found that the suspension of the VC was not correct and that proper processes were not followed.
The failure to follow proper processes by the sub-committee of the council raises many questions about the extent to which council members and sub-committees are conducting their responsibilities..
It also raises questions about good governance of universities, the role and accountability of the council, the transparency in decision-making, and the extent to which council members understand academic freedom and the role of the VC.
The decision made by the council may also raise questions about the pro-chancellor and the Minister of Education, Heritage and Arts who are members of the executive committee that suspended the VC.
The council meets again this week to discuss other matters related to governance.
USP governance will continue to be in turbulence if the council does not resolve the following issues immediately:
- the ongoing membership of the pro-chancellor;
- the ongoing membership of those council members who staged the suspension of the VC; and
- the investigation of those staff members who may have played a role in the mismanagement of university funds based on the BDO report.
The council needs to resolve the above matters before it can continue to focus on strategy and the future development of USP.
The relationship between the VC, pro-chancellor and some members of the university council has already turned sour, and it is in the best interest of the council to renew the membership immediately and provide opportunity for new members to be part of the council.
There is no doubt that some staff members, some students and some of the stakeholders from member countries would like the pro-chancellor to step down and enable the council to focus on strategic issues that are confronting USP.
Having worked 18 years in a number of Australian universities in senior roles and being part of external review panels at various universities, it is my view that the council needs to immediately renew its membership academic freedom and autonomy must not be compromised.
The Minister of Education, Heritage and Arts should build expertise in her team on tertiary education policy and reforms which I believe is lacking in the ministry for many years.
I have alluded in past that the Fiji Higher Education Commission is failing to fulfil its responsibilities in auditing and regulating higher education institutions.
The governance issues surrounding USP are a learning experience for other universities in Fiji
Academic freedom must be respected, and various stakeholders must work together to strengthen the governance of the university and build trust with its stakeholders including the various member countries.
The university needs to also focus on building and sustaining a strong culture which is based on the principles of respect, ethics and accountability.
- 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 of this newspaper. Readers can contact Mahsood at shah_mahsood@hotmail.com
