CAPTION: USP Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Susan Kelly with His Excellency, Ambassador, Mr Isauro Torres(right) and USP Academic, MrRicardo Fernandez.
The Chilean Ambassador to Fiji, His Excellency, MrIsauro Torres, based in New Zealand, paid a courtesy visit and presented his credentials to the University of the South Pacific on Tuesday, 25 June, 2013.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Susan Kelly in welcoming the delegation, congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment as Non-Resident Ambassador to Fiji.
The Ambassador was delighted to visit the University’s Laucala Campus in Suva, and expressed his desire to foster stronger relations between the University and the Republic of Chile, through discussing areas of possible cooperation.
The Ambassador discussed a variety of issues in relation to the environment, geography and academic collaboration, in relation to the University’s role as a regional hub for the Pacific, while touching on the similarities between the two nations.
Professor Kelly highlighted the history and the significant amount of contribution the University, as a regional tertiary institution, has made to the Pacific region since its establishment.
She also touched on the developments the University is undertaking under its 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, expanding its infrastructure and services in its regional centres.
The Ambassador noted that the University has yet to develop relationships with institutions and agencies in the Republic of Chile, and said he would be honoured to help develop and sustain collaboration between the University and the Republic of Chile.
He suggested that they deliberate further on how the University and the Chilean government could go ahead with this.
Professor Kelly welcomed the idea, considering the fact that USP does not have any collaboration with Chilean institutions, and that the University has collaborated greatly with other Universities in areas of research, student exchange programmes, community education and environmental-related issues.
She also explained that the University has achieved cooperation with educational and development-based organisations and philanthropic foundations through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and other agreements. The Ambassador agreed, saying that he would take it up further with his colleagues.
Professor Kelly thanked the Ambassador for the visit and wished him well in future endeavours, saying the University will look forward to further collaboration.
Ambassador Torres apart from being resident Ambassador to New Zealand, and non-resident Ambassador to Fiji, will also serve USP member countries, Samoa and Tonga.
PRESS RELEASE