The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a state-owned public research university founded in 1968. It operates as an intergovernmental organization, with ownership shared by the governments of twelve Pacific Island nations: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. USP has campuses and facilities across these countries and employs approximately 3220 people, with its headquarters located in Fiji.