The University of the South Pacific is a regional university jointly owned by 12 Pacific Island nations. Professor Gurmeet Singh highlights how USP MBA’s approach fosters collaborative learning, equips students with practical skills to tackle local business challenges, and provides them with hands-on industry experience.
Pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) has become a key career move for many aspiring professionals. And while the appeal of globally renowned institutions is undeniable, a regional university can also be a wise choice. Regional universities offer unique MBA programs tailored to the specific needs of their region.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) stands as a prime example among regional universities, jointly owned by the governments of 12 Pacific Island nations, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa. The university’s headquarters is located in Suva, Fiji, with additional campuses distributed among its member states.
Professor Gurmeet Singh, the Head of School for the School of Business and Management, provides insights into the localized approach of their MBA program. He also discusses regional hurdles, the business environment, and the innovative pedagogical strategies they employ.
One of USP’s unique teaching techniques is its round-table system.
At the heart of University of the South Pacific’s MBA program lies a distinctive teaching system. Professor Singh says that, unlike traditional lecture-based models, USP’s students learn “not just from the teacher, but mostly from each other.” This is achieved through a round tables format of classroom discussion. (02:31)
These discussions group students of varied backgrounds, including CEOs and senior executives. They engage with each other, share insights from their experiences, and collectively analyze real-world business issues. This allows them to enrich their understanding of complex business scenarios around doing business in the Pacific Island region.
“On every table, we will have one CEO and one very senior manager, and that’s how they learn from each other. So they get experience from the CEOs, and then the teachers coordinate the teaching. This is how we teach our MBA program,” Professor Singh explains (02:48)
By harnessing these diverse viewpoints and backgrounds, students learn not only from the faculty but also from their peers. Collaborative learning enhances higher-level thinking, improves retention, boosts student satisfaction, fosters interpersonal skills, and prepares learners for real-world collaborative challenges.
One compelling advantage of pursuing an MBA at a regional university is its capacity to address region-specific challenges. USP’s program empowers students to tackle problems directly relevant to Pacific Island economies.
“When we teach in the smaller countries, we select the case studies related to their economy, related to their problems, and related to their focus,” Professor Singh says. (03:33)
This hyper-regional focus equips USP graduates with practical skills to navigate issues unique to their area. This equips them to offer unique value to local enterprises in ways that graduates from globally oriented programs can’t.
“When we are teaching in Fiji, for example, we talk about the global context, we talk about the Fijian economy, we have case studies from the Fijian industry, Fijian businesses,” Professor Singh says. (03:44)
This close collaboration with regional industries allows students to gain hands-on experience through internships, consulting projects, and networking opportunities. This professional exposure helps bridge the gap between classroom theories and real-world applications.
Choosing between a globalized university and a regional one with a localized focus depends on your aspirations and interests. If you want maximum exposure to diverse ideas and perspectives, a regional university might not fit your plans.
“We don’t get many international students because we are a regional university, so we have regional students,” Professor Singh explains. (05:59)
However, if you prioritize becoming an expert in a regional context a regional university can be the way to go.
The USP offers a distinctive educational journey that encourages collaborative learning and bridges the gap between academia and industry. For professionals and leaders aiming to advance their careers in the South Pacific region, this tailored approach of USP offers immense value.
