The Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa and Chancellor of The University of the
South Pacific, Afioga i le Ao o le Malo, Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaleto’a Sualauvi II toured the
University’s Laucala Campus on 4 October 2022 including a visit to USP’s Library, Japan-
Pacific ICT Centre and the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies (OCACPS).
The Chancellor was accompanied by his wife, Afioga i le Masiofo Faamausili Leinafo
Tuimalealiifano, Samoa’s High Commissioner to Fiji His Excellency Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia,
and Mr Agafili Shem Leo, CEO of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The delegation was received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Jito
Vanualailai and the Secretary to the USP Council, Totivi Bokini-Ratu before attending a virtual
meeting with the USP Vice-Chancellor and President (VC&P), Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Following the brief meeting with the USP VC&P, the Chancellor and the delegation proceeded
on a tour of the USP Laucala Campus Library with University Librarian, Elizabeth Fong and her
staff.
Ms. Fong shared information about the USP library throughout the tour, highlighting how the
main Library at the Laucala Campus was established in 1969, a year after the University was
founded in 1968.
“Campus and Centre Libraries have also been established in the 12 USP member countries and
part of our mission going forward is to be able to provide equitable access to excellent library
and information services, resources and facilities for students, staff and the wider Pacific
community,” she added.
The USP Chancellor was also given a tour of the Pacific Collection within the library.
Librarian, Gwen Rounds explained that the Pacific Collection of the USP Library was a special
collection of library materials both published and unpublished on the Pacific.
“The Pacific Collection contains materials focusing on one or more of the following Pacific
islands or their people. The collection also has items relating to the Australian Aborigines,
Hawaiians, New Zealand Maoris, Torres Strait Islanders and Pacific Island communities living
outside the region,” she added.
The Chancellor was then given a tour of the ITS Centre with Acting Director ITS, Fereti Atalifo
and his team.

The ITS team gave the USP Chancellor and his delegation a run-through of all the services
provided throughout USP’s labs and how respective systems and networks were created,
managed and maintained.
The final stop of the tour for the USP Chancellor was the USP Oceania Centre and Oceania Art
Gallery where he was given a tour by the OCACPS Acting Director, Mr Larry Thomas and
viewed performances by the Oceania Dance Theatre and Pasifika Voices.
The USP Chancellor is in Fiji to officiate at the USP October Graduation that will be held
between 5 and 6 October 2022 at the Vodafone Arena where 1,199 students will be graduating.