Samoa Campus Director Thankful for Covid-free Status, USP Orientation Day a Success

The University of the South Pacific Samoa Campus (USP) was buzzing on Thursday morning, as a full Orientation Day programme was held for students returning for their second semester of the year, as well as those newly enrolled for study. 

Campus Director Tootoooleaava Dr Fanaafi Aiono-Le Tagaloa said students and faculty of USP Samoa are grateful to be able to host an uninterrupted Orientation program, and commended Samoa’s covid-free status.

Tootoooleaava said other USP campuses in the Pacific are facing the challenge of not being able to conduct programs as usual, due to lockdowns as those partner countries battle with community cases of Covid-19.

“We are thankful to be able to run a full programme. Samoa is the only campus that have been able to host Orientation and continue as usual. Our other partners are facing challenges due to the global coronavirus pandemic,” said Tootoooleaava.

Scholarships were announced as part of the Orientation programme, however, the Samoa Campus Director said Orientation Day focused on all students including their many students who are self-funded by parents and families who work hard to pay school fees.

Orientation serves as an important information sharing day for students to better navigate the University campus and get to know where they can access different services available for them. Students can source where to get text books and other resources needed for the various courses they have enrolled in.

“There are students enrolled for the first time this Semester who have not been on campus before, and so this is one of the main reasons of today’s program – is to get the students used to the different areas of campus, find their bearings on where they need to go for classes, the process of paying their school fees, how to access the library and student resource centres in the compound”.

Local business set up stalls offering products and services tailored to student needs.

Students were provided with gift bags and promotional material by firms such as Samoa Stationary and Books (SSAB), BDO, Digicel Samoa and the Maua App.

Srudents enjoyed give aways such as book-bags, hats, stationery, student sim cards and more.

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