USP to hold its annual open day program at Laucala campus tomorrow

The University of the South Pacific will hold its Open Day at its campuses in Fiji and around the Pacific Island region tomorrow.

Over 10,000 visitors are expected to visit the University and take part in the various activities planned for the day. The USP Open Day is the University’s largest public relations event showcasing its faculties, programs of study, research, and its diverse community of staff, students, stakeholders and friends working together.

The theme for this year’s Open Day is Our Future, Your Future - Leading a Quality Region.

Over 8000 people are expected to visit the Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji. Students from over 60 secondary schools from around the country are expected to make up the bulk of visitors. Schools from as far as Yasawa and Ovalau will be visiting the University on the Day. This year's Open Day will include participation by the all campuses in Fiji - Laucala, Lautoka and Labasa, Nauru, Solomon island, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Tonga, Niue, Tokelau and Samoa.

USP Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Esther Williams said that the idea of the Open Day where learners can come to view what the University has to offer in terms of their future, is an important part of adding value to the lives of our young people in education.

"The Open Day will highlight and profile the best of education, training and development resources and services across all our campuses in the region, and showcase the success of our graduates and the leadership roles that many hold throughout the region,'' said Dr Williams.

Highlights during the day include activities and displays planned by the various schools and departments under the four Faculties - Faculty of Arts and Law; Faculty of Business and Economics; Faculty of Islands and Oceans and Faculty of Science and Technology.

Other activities include:
- Chemistry Quiz Competition for all high school students from 9am to 1pm;

- A science ‘Magic Show’;

- Chemistry experiments by staff and students which will run in the chemistry labs throughout the day;

- A robotics competition organised by the Engineering Department;

- Marine specimen and marine gear displays by the School of Marine Studies at the Lower Campus;

- A display by the Institute of Marine Resources to commemorate the International Year of the Sea Turtle;

- Maths and computing competitions with great prizes.

Student cultural groups affiliated with the USP Students Association and performers from the Oceania Centre for Arts and Culture will put up cultural and contemporary performances. For Solomon Islands students it is still uncertain whether students will partcipate in the cultural activities or not.

The major sponsor for this year’s Open Day is Westpac. Other sponsors are Air Pacific, Dee Cees Bus Services Limited, Western Union, Star Printery, Vodafone, USP Book Centre, Coca Cola, Clairty Technologies, Telecom Fiji Limited, Unwired, Bligh Water Shipping.

The Open Day will be on from 8am-4pm.

Source: USP