The University of the South Pacific (USP) has confirmed that its Vice-Chancellor and President, Prof. Pal Ahluwalia, will conclude his tenure on 1 September 2025.
Appointed in 2018 and formally beginning his term in 2019, Prof. Ahluwalia brought with him decades of international academic leadership. Of Indian origin, he was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and educated at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and Flinders University in Australia. He previously served as Professor of Politics at the University of Adelaide, and later held senior roles including Pro Vice-Chancellor and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Australia. In 2014, he was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.
Prof. Ahluwalia’s leadership at USP coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in the university’s history, particularly marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and financial strain.
In a statement, USP acknowledged his “significant contributions” during this time, particularly in maintaining teaching and research operations despite severe fiscal and operational pressures.
USP Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Siosiua ‘Utoikamanu, thanked Prof. Ahluwalia for his service, saying he “led USP through a period of significant challenges” with the support of the university’s staff, students, and management team.
Key milestones under Prof. Ahluwalia’s tenure include the reaffirmation of accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), validating the global recognition of USP’s academic programmes.
Most notably under his expert guidance, USP also entered major international rankings — including Times Higher Education and WURI — for the first time. He championed the creation of the Centre for Sustainable Futures, a hub for advancing sustainability and resilience across the Pacific.
Prof. Ahluwalia’s tenure also attracted international attention in 2021 when he was deported from Fiji by the Bainimarama government.
Labelled a “prohibited immigrant,” Prof. Ahluwalia and his partner Sandra Price were forcibly removed from their Suva home and placed on a flight to Brisbane. He described the ordeal as traumatic, claiming Fijian officials threatened to break down his door and manhandled him during detention.
The deportation sparked condemnation from regional leaders, human rights groups, staff, and students. A joint statement from USP staff associations called the move a “Gestapo tactic,” while then–Opposition Leader Prof. Biman Prasad described it as “a cowardly and thuggish act.”
Despite being exiled from Fiji, Prof. Ahluwalia continued to serve as Vice-Chancellor from Nauru — a bold move that cemented his standing among many in the university community.
Prof. Ahluwalia remained a popular figure at USP’s Suva campus, widely respected for his commitment to institutional reform, academic integrity, and regional collaboration.
The USP Council has announced it will begin the process of appointing a new Vice-Chancellor and President. Interim management arrangements will be put in place to ensure a smooth transition.
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