The University of the South Pacific's professor of government, development and international studies says the institution still offers the best value for money in Oceania.
A student at the Solomon Islands campus of USP Photo: Asian Development Bank
Vijay Naidu, who has served the USP in many roles including as Dean and Head of School, made his comments as the university celebrates its Golden Jubilee year.
Professor Naidu said serving a region with a per capita income of $US2000 posed significant financial challenges for the institution.
But he said it was still one of the most competitive options for tertiary education in the region.
"Resourcing is a challenge but we give the biggest bang for the dollar in terms of all the universities in Oceania and therefore we continue to get a lot of support and our enrolment, student enrolment, has been increasing quite dramatically each year.
"It gives us a type of confidence that the region actually has the highest regard for its premier regional institution," he said.
The USP was established in 1968 and is owned by the governments of 12 countries in the Pacific island region - Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Samoa.