The Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific says a five percent increase in student fees will help fund its plans to upgrade the USP.
The USP has announced a 135 million US dollar strategic plan for the next six years, to upgrade and develop new facilities across all campuses, hire more professors and boost its reputation for research and Pacific studies.
Rajesh Chandra says a five percent increase in fees introduced this year will help fund the strategic plan.
"Over four years we have had a lot of inflation averaging around 20 percent. And so this increase is related to everthing. It's a partial recovery from inflation cost, it's a reflection of the need to improve quality at the university and it will support our plans."
Rajesh Chandra says the higher fees is unlikely to deter students from attending the USP and says early indications show an 11 percent increase in enrolments compared with last year.
