# University of the South Pacific

> intergovernmental organisation and public research university headquartered in Suva, Fiji

**Wikidata**: [Q1062121](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1062121)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_South_Pacific)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/university-of-the-south-pacific

## Summary
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public research university and intergovernmental organization headquartered in Suva, Fiji. Established in 1968, it serves as the primary higher education institution for 12 Pacific Island member countries. With approximately 16,980 students and 1,674 employees, USP offers a comprehensive range of academic programs from vocational certificates to doctoral degrees.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1968
- **Headquarters**: Suva, Fiji (coordinates: -18.14898, 178.44450194444445)
- **Type**: Public research university and intergovernmental organization
- **Member Countries**: Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu
- **Student Enrollment**: 16,980 (as of 2017)
- **Employees**: 1,674
- **Website**: https://www.usp.ac.fj/
- **Social Media**: Twitter (@unisouthpacific) with 11,115 followers (as of February 2023); Facebook (uspsafederal)
- **Memberships**: Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, Open Education Global, International Council for Open and Distance Education, International Science Council, International Association of Universities
- **Official Observer Status**: Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

## FAQs

### Q: Which countries are served by the University of the South Pacific?
A: The University of the South Pacific serves 12 Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu. It is an intergovernmental organization owned collectively by these member nations.

### Q: What types of degrees and programs does USP offer?
A: USP offers a wide range of programs including vocational certificates, academic certificates, diplomas, Bachelor's degrees (Arts, Education, Laws), Master's degrees (Arts, Education, Laws), and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Programs span fields such as law, education, Pacific languages, journalism, marine management, environmental studies, and climate change.

### Q: When was the University of the South Pacific established?
A: The University of the South Pacific was established in 1968. It has since grown to become a major public research university serving the Pacific Island region.

### Q: What makes USP unique compared to other universities?
A: USP is unique in being both a public research university and an intergovernmental organization, collectively owned and operated by 12 Pacific Island nations. It is one of only two regional universities in the world (alongside the University of the West Indies) and specializes in Pacific Island studies, vernacular languages, and regional issues like climate change and marine management.

## Why It Matters
The University of the South Pacific plays a critical role in higher education access and regional development across the Pacific Islands. As an intergovernmental organization, it represents a collaborative approach to education that transcends national boundaries, allowing smaller island nations to pool resources and provide comprehensive university education that would be difficult for any single nation to maintain independently.

USP addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of the Pacific region through specialized programs in Pacific vernacular languages (including Fijian, Hindi, Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Niuean, and Vanuatu Language Studies), marine management, climate change, and Pacific studies. The university's research focus on environmental resource management, climate change, and sustainable development directly serves the needs of Pacific Island nations facing existential threats from rising sea levels and environmental degradation.

With nearly 17,000 students across 12 countries, USP serves as a vital institution for developing local expertise and leadership. Its membership in prestigious international organizations like the International Science Council and Agence universitaire de la Francophonie ensures that Pacific Island scholars and students remain connected to global academic networks while maintaining regional focus and relevance.

## Notable For
- **Intergovernmental Status**: One of the few universities in the world structured as an intergovernmental organization, owned collectively by 12 Pacific Island nations rather than a single country
- **Pacific Language Preservation**: Offers academic programs in multiple Pacific vernacular languages including Fijian, Hindi, Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Niuean, and Vanuatu Language Studies
- **Comprehensive Degree Offerings**: Spans from vocational certificates to Doctor of Philosophy degrees, with specialized programs in Pacific-focused fields like Pacific Journalism, Marine Management, and Climate Change
- **Extensive Geographic Reach**: Serves students across 12 Pacific Island countries through a network of campuses and distance education programs
- **International Recognition**: Member of major global academic organizations including the International Science Council, International Association of Universities, and Agence universitaire de la Francophonie

## Body

### Founding and Governance
The University of the South Pacific was established in 1968 as both a public research university and intergovernmental organization. Its unique governance structure involves ownership by 12 Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu. The university is headquartered in Suva, Fiji, at coordinates -18.14898 latitude and 178.44450194444445 longitude.

### Academic Programs and Degrees
USP offers a comprehensive range of academic credentials across multiple levels:

**Certificate Programs**:
- Vocational certificates in law and justice
- Academic certificates covering educational assessment, policing, Fijian language, social and community work, non-formal education, and multiple vernacular languages (Tongan, Niuean, Vanuatu languages, Cook Islands Māori)

**Diploma Programs**:
Subject areas include justice, Early Childhood Education and Care, Educational Evaluation and Assessment, Multilingual Studies, Pacific Journalism, Police Management, criminal prosecution, social work, Special and Inclusive Education, agriculture, economics, hotel management, land management, leadership/governance/human rights, official statistics, Population Studies and Demography, legal practice, legislative drafting, teaching, educational leadership, accounting studies, and management studies

**Bachelor's Degrees**:
- Bachelor of Arts: Specializations in Chinese, French, education, history, journalism, law, linguistics, literature, psychology, social work, sociology, Pacific Literature, Pacific Language Studies, Pacific Policing, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, marine management, Environment and Management, mathematics, geography, business information systems, computer science, and analytics
- Bachelor of Education: Primary education and secondary education tracks
- Bachelor of Laws

**Graduate Degrees**:
- Master of Arts: Fields include education, history, journalism, linguistics, applied linguistics, psychology, social policy, sociology, Pacific studies, literature, development studies, Diplomacy and International Affairs, governance, business administration, politics/international affairs, mathematics, marine management, geography, and environmental resource management
- Master of Education
- Master of Laws
- Doctor of Philosophy: With specialization in climate change

### Organizational Affiliations
The University maintains memberships in several prestigious international academic organizations:
- Agence universitaire de la Francophonie
- Open Education Global
- International Council for Open and Distance Education
- International Science Council
- International Association of Universities

Additionally, USP holds official observer status with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

### Institutional Identifiers and Recognition
USP is recognized by numerous international bibliographic and academic databases:
- ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier): 0000000121714027
- ROR ID: 008stv805
- GRID ID: grid.33998.38
- VIAF ID: 140733222
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n81128342
- World Higher Education Database ID: IAU-0205777
- Times Higher Education World University ID: university-south-pacific
- ARWU University ID: the-university-of-the-south-pacific
- Google Scholar Organization ID: 9171429081722256053

### Operational Scale
As of 2017, the university enrolled 16,980 students and employed 1,674 staff members. The university maintains an active online presence through its website (https://www.usp.ac.fj/), Twitter account (@unisouthpacific) with 11,115 followers as of February 2023, and Facebook page (uspsafederal). Its Wikipedia presence spans multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Hebrew, and Fijian Hindi.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123144401/https://www.auf.org/les_membres/nos-membres/)
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230322221352/https://www.oeglobal.org/about-us/members-list/)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240407191925/https://www.icde.org/members-community/)
6. [Source](https://council.science/members/online-directory/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. [Source](http://www.usp.ac.fj)
9. GRID Release 2015-12-14
10. GRID Release 2016-12-06
11. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
12. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
13. HAL
14. [Source](https://ror.org/008stv805)
15. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
16. [Source](https://www.wcpfc.int/wcpfc-membership)