Minister lays down challenge for tertiary education
Newly-appointed members of the Fiji National University (FNU) Council have been challenged to elevate the university to a new level of pedigree and prestige.
The challenge has come from the Minister of Education, Heritage and Arts Minister, Rosy Akbar, while officially opening the first FNU Council meeting at FNU Nadi Campus.
She highlighted the important role the council played in the growth of the national university and to support the Government’s vision of creating a knowledge-oriented society.
“The Bainimarama Government has consistently lifted the vision of Fiji, to be a smart society, peaceful, progressive and inclusive, and one committed not only to the sustainable development of Fiji, but to Fiji playing its full role globally to fight the challenge of climate change and resulting intensification of natural disasters that threaten the very existence of our globe,” she said
The Education Minister said despite having a regional university, the Fijian
Government saw the need to establish its own national university.
“The government wants the University to produce relevant graduates, graduates who can critically think, have an entrepreneurial mind and be responsible members of society. The future of the country is dependent on the national university to produce well-balanced individuals.
“Of its $164m revenue in 2018, $60m (37 per cent) was the Fiji Government operating grant and $74m (45 per cent) was student tuition fee and hostel income. Given that tuition and hostel income is almost exclusively from TELS, this $74m is almost all publicly-funded in the first instance.”
FNU Chancellor and Chair of the Council, Dr Rajesh Chandra reiterated that the council would ensure that the university was aligned to the needs of the various industries in the country and other stakeholders.
Vice Chancellor Professor Nigel Healey added that the university would continue in its mission to provide quality education that was accessible to all Fijians.
The FNU Council meeting continues tomorrow.