Rajesh Chandra
{{short description|Fijian academic of Indian descent|bot=PearBOT 5}}
Rajesh Chandra was a Fijian academic. In February 2005 he was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly founded University of Fiji. He served as Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of the South Pacific (USP) ending his term in December 2018. After his retirement, he was appointed the Chancellor of Fiji National University, holding office from April 2019 until January 2020 when he stepped down for medical reasons. He died on 16 November 2023 after a long illness.{{cite web|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/sabha-mourns-loss-of-professor-chandra/|title=Sabha mourns loss of Professor Chandra|work=FBC News|last=Pratap|first=Ritika|date=18 November 2023|access-date=22 November 2023}}https://fijilive.com/fijian-academic-professor-chandra-dies/
University of the South Pacific career
Chandra served on the staff of the University of the South Pacific (USP), the South Pacific Islands regional university, from 1975 to 2005, before taking up the Vice-Chancellorship of the new University of Fiji. He was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the USP for nine years, and also served for three years as Acting Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic), and Director of Planning and Development. From 1987 to 1988, he was Head of the School of Social and Economic Development, and from 1994 to 1996, of the Geography Department. In early June 2013, USP's council cleared Chandra of allegations (based on a petition circulated by a group called USP-devoted IE for Justice) of corruption and abuse of authority.[http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/10920/usp-vc-cleared-of-allegations FBC News][http://fijisun.com.fj/2013/06/08/council-clears-usp-boss/ Fiji Sun]
After retiring from USP in December 2018, Chandra's successor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, alleged he had found evidence of significant abuse of office during Chandra's tenure.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wansolwaranews.com/2019/05/17/usp-council-to-investigate-claims-of-abuse-of-office/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.wansolwaranews.com|title=USP Council to investigate claims of abuse of office}}{{Cite web|last=Krishnamurthi|first=Sri|title=USP mismanagement 'widespread', staff tell current affairs show {{!}} Asia Pacific Report|url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/10/24/usp-mismanagement-widespread-staff-tell-current-affairs-show/|access-date=2021-02-06|language=en-US}} This included the promotion and overpayment of favoured managers and the systematic abuse of allowances and privileges, amounting to millions of dollars.{{Cite web|title=USP rocked by abuse allegations|url=https://www.islandsbusiness.com/breaking-news/item/2407-usp-rocked-by-abuse-allegations.html|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.islandsbusiness.com|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|date=2019-05-10|title=Allegations of mismanagement at USP|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/388905/allegations-of-mismanagement-at-usp|access-date=2021-02-06|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite web|url=https://dailypost.vu/news/usp-rocked-by-abuse-allegations/article_b9098df9-8674-53e9-8f05-36b78a7569f5.html|title = Usp Rocked by Abuse Allegations}}{{Cite web|title=USP commits to 4th campus – Solomon Star News|url=https://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/23782-usp-commits-to-4th-campus|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.solomonstarnews.com}} The matter was investigated by New Zealand accounting firm BDO, which substantiated many of the allegations{{Cite web|title='THE BDO REPORT INTO RORT AT USP IS NOT HISTORY': Wadan Narsey|url=http://www.fijileaks.com/2/post/2020/06/the-bdo-report-into-rort-at-usp-is-not-history-wadan-narsey.html|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Fijileaks|language=en}} but the report was suppressed by the USP Council.{{Cite web |title=Secret report reveals widespread salary and allowance rorts at USP {{!}} Asia Pacific Report|url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2020/06/11/secret-report-reveals-widespread-salary-and-allowance-rorts-at-usp/|access-date=2021-02-06|language=en-US}} The subsequent scandal over poor governance and mismanagement was widely documented in the international media.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-22|title='Witch-hunts' and whistleblowers: University of the South Pacific in crisis|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/23/witch-hunts-and-whistleblowers-university-of-the-south-pacific-in-crisis|access-date=2021-02-06|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=P. M. C.|title=Journalist reports on USP payments scandal as campus backs reform VC {{!}} Asia Pacific Report|url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2020/06/10/journalist-reports-on-usp-payments-scandal-as-campus-backs-reform-vc/|access-date=2021-02-06|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=USP Cook Islands backs 'clean out' bid in Fiji, avoids student disruption {{!}} Asia Pacific Report|url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2020/06/12/usp-cook-islands-backs-clean-out-bid-in-fiji-avoids-student-disruption/|access-date=2021-02-06|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Hard knocks at University of the South Pacific|url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/hard-knocks-university-south-pacific|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.lowyinstitute.org|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2020/06/10/albert-schram-university-governance-academic-freedom-and-institutional-autonomy-in-the-pacific/|title=Albert Schram: University governance, academic freedom and institutional autonomy in the Pacific | Asia Pacific Report}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=Leadership crisis besets University of the South Pacific|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/leadership-crisis-besets-university-south-pacific|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=University of South Pacific plagued by scandal|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/07/17/university-south-pacific-plagued-scandal|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.insidehighered.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Sadhana|date=2020-10-20|title=The USP saga: domestic politics versus regional aspirations|url=https://devpolicy.org/the-usp-saga-domestic-politics-versus-regional-aspirations-20201021-1/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre|language=en-US}} The University Council decided to move the headquarters of USP from Fiji to Samoa in protest at the Fiji Government's interference in the management of the regional institution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/pal-ahluwalia-relieved-to-be-back-at-usp/13373702|title = Pacific: Pal Ahluwalia relieved he'll be back at the helm of USP after being kicked out of Fiji| website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date = 4 June 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/university-south-pacific-v-c-secures-reappointment|title = University of the South Pacific v-c secures reappointment|date = 9 August 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://theworldnews.net/ws-news/ahluwalia-reappointed-usp-vice-chancellor-and-resumes-job-in-samoa|title=Ahluwalia reappointed USP Vice-Chancellor and resumes job in Samoa}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070527021922/http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=3765 The University of the South Pacific website]
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Category:People from Nadroga-Navosa Province
Category:University of the South Pacific alumni
Category:Year of birth missing
Category:University of British Columbia alumni
Category:Academic staff of the University of Fiji
Category:Vice-chancellors of the University of the South Pacific