Author: Manaini Rokotuivuna

International study experiences assist students from both visiting and hosting universities in building international networks, increases cross-cultural competency, and encourages the students to step outside of their comfort zones, says Shirley Prasad, Marketing and Public Relations Officer at University of Fiji.

This comes about as the University is hosting 10 students from Curtin University, Australia.   The students are here from School of Science and Engineering and this is part of their Internationalisation programme.

“For UniFiji, hosting international visitors can lead to greater international outlook and intercultural understanding.     Also, UniFiji students can apply for New Colombo Plan Scholarship and study at Australian University,” said Prasad.

One of the visiting students Thomas Smedley who studying chemical engineering at Curtin University said that the curriculum taught at UniFiji is similar to that of his own University.

“I think it is very cool and it is very interesting to learn about how other countries and cultures teach their students, very surprising how similar it is to our current syllabus,” he said.

Another student Marko Petrovic said that staff and students at UniFiji are the most welcoming and warm people he had ever met.

“The communal atmosphere makes learning here pleasure as classes are smaller and more interactive and I wish I didn’t have to leave,” he stated.

The students would sit in everyday classes and lectures to observe Fijian teaching and learning methods.

The classes were not of any discipline specific, but more for the students to get an authentic experience.

This group is the second one to come to UniFiji.  Professor Shawkat Ali, the Dean for School of Science and Technology initiated this programme last year with Curtin University.

Getting a MoU between the two universities would be the next step.

 

 

 

The University of Fiji with its emerging focus on internationalization through functioning multilaterally and not unilaterally will have more to its advantage in relation to research-based teaching, research, and knowledge transfer, says Vice-Chancellor Professor Prem Misir.

Speaking at the University’s School of Science and Technology (SOST) student orientation, he added that developing a global network was crucial for the University.

“The University of Fiji is forging ahead with the task of developing a global network of academic and commercial partners; the University of Fiji’s South Pacific location and cultural dimensions of its student body symbolize a huge asset to facilitate interactions with global alumni and graduate networks,” stated Prof Misir.

He advised the SOST students that they would have a fundamental association with the staff to help develop a knowledge based society.

“Through the Strategic Plan, you would have an intrinsic collaboration with the University’s staff to contribute to develop a knowledge society in Fiji. Indeed, when you complete your studies, your input to develop this knowledge society continues by virtue of your achievements at the University of Fiji,” he reinforced.

Vice-Chancellor also said that after graduating from the University students would have certain qualities that would build a knowledge society.

“We want our graduates to be a creative thinker; to develop interpersonal skills; to have ICT literacy; to have an innovative ability; to acquire an internationally – oriented mind-set; to have an environmentally-responsible outlook; and to build a commitment to ethical values,” he concluded.

The orientation was attended by over 50 first year students and was a success.

Meanwhile registrations are still on-going at both the Saweni and Suva Campuses.

 

The University of Fiji today conducted its student orientation and was a massive success attended by hundreds of students.

Speaking at the event the motivational speaker Mr Seru Ramakita shared the importance of hard work and determination.

“When you enter the University, I now you would be scared but remember to work. If you are ever in doubt seek assistance from your lecturers and always complete your work on time. If you work hard, you will never fail a unit and you would never get in trouble with the school or the TSLB,” he explained.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Prem Misir said joining UniFiji would provide building blocks of a knowledge based society that the current Government is striving towards.

“I harbor no illusions that your entrance into the intellectual halls of this University would provide face-to-face interactions with three components as building blocks of a knowledge society, among others; these building blocks are internationalization, interdisciplinarity, and academic-industry collaboration,” he stated.

He further added that as students at the University of Fiji, they would experience both disciplinarity and interdisciplinarity.

“Disciplinarity is the expertise within a particular discipline; and interdisciplinarity will enable students to study problems and their solutions that require inputs from several disciplines,” he explained.

Students who attended the orientation said that they were overwhelmed and were very appreciative of the orientation.

“The orientation was really informative and I learnt a lot including information on the University and its facilities as well as the strategic plan,” said Sheenal Aashna, a first year BSc student.

“I found this orientation really interesting and I learnt a lot of things like the courses being offered,” said Swashna, a first year BA student.

Student orientation at the Suva Campus would be held on 13^th February.

Registrations are on-going at the both the Campuses.

The Masters in Renewable Energy Management (MREM) being offered by the University of Fiji would help in human capacity building towards the implementation of renewable energy, which is an essential tool for climate change mitigation, says Dr Anirudh Singh, Coordinator of the MREM programme at UniFIji.

“If you want to implement renewable energy, you ought to have the capacity to do it and one the aspects of capacity building is human capacity building. This is where the MREM programme has taken a lead as it trains people to participate in these projects,” said Dr Singh.

He further explained that the programme ties in well with the outcomes of COP21.

“The outcomes of COP21 are that the world has agreed to support the poorer nations to carry out their climate change mitigation activities and one of the main methods for climate change mitigation is implementation of renewable energy,” he stated.

He also said the MREM programme, which is one of its kind in Fiji, came at a very suitable time when Fiji held the presidency of COP23.

“MREM course comes in at a very opportune time; this is something that we ought to be proud about that UniFiji has actually chosen to offer this course at this time of the history of the country,” he reinforced.

He further explained that students who finished the MREM programme would be working at the cutting edge of Fiji’s socio-economic development.

Meanwhile he said that the student numbers for the course had exceeded expectations.

Registrations are still open for the programme till the end of February but only a limited number of additional students will be admitted this semester.