Category: News & Events

The University of Fiji and the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) today entered a far-reaching Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate as partners on a range of initiatives to benefit both the sugar industry and higher education.

In the initial phase of the partnership, UniFiji will assist SRIF to develop its five-year Strategic Plan and SRIF will provide support for the University’s science research and student attachments.

The MOU was signed today by the Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem and the CEO of SRIF Dr Vinesh Kumar at the Saweni Campus of the University.

The MOU allows the University to help develop SRIF’s Strategic Plan in accordance with the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji Act 2005.

In her address, Professor Shameem said that the legal mandate of SRIF was wide-ranging and included responsibility to undertake research on technical, social, scientific and commercial aspects of the sugar industry, to provide technical and other support to farmers including cane quality payments, and to have oversight on land use, environmental protection, diversification and performance of the industry. Professor Shameem said SRIF’s comprehensive mandate allowed the University to reflect on the best way to assist the Institute with defining its outputs and outcomes.

The University will also help to train and build capacity for SRIF personnel and stakeholders including farmers. The MOU establishes a programme of work with collaboration on industry initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and Fiji’s climate change commitments.

The University will also provide SRIF stakeholders with specialized training curricula, short courses and certificates tailored to the legislative mandate of SRIF and the sugar industry as a whole. Joint workshops, seminars and conferences are also planned under the MOU. Also planned is assistance with policy and communication strategy development.

Other areas of collaboration between UniFiji and SRIF include training opportunities for students and internships and attachments with SRIF.

The CEO of SRIF said that this partnership marks a significant milestone in the collective efforts to advance research, innovation, and capacity- building in Fijis Sugar industry.

He shared that SRIF has always committed to scientific excellence and industry driven research, therefore by working together with the University of Fiji, both institutions will be able to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring cutting-edge scientific knowledge is translated into tangible benefits for farmers, millers and industry stakeholders.

Dr Kumar also thanked the leadership of the University for recognizing the importance of this partnership and commitment to foster research and education in the sugar sector. The MOU will pave a way for joint research projects, student training programmes, academic exchanges and collaborative initiative focused on key challenges in the sugar industry. This will include improving soil health, enhancing cane varieties, developing climate resilient farming techniques and optimizing sugar production.

Professor Shameem said that in the University’s view sugar remained an essential part of the overall economy of Fiji and when SRIF reached out for an MOU, the University did not hesitate. SRIF’s legislation allowed the University to add value to the MOU by proposing a holistic and human values perspective on the sugar industry. She said the industry also had heritage value in its origins and social structure both in farming and milling. The sugar industry had supported the social, economic and cultural well-being of generations of people in Fiji and thus needed to be treated with respect.

Most of the students of the University came from the west and therefore the University had a responsibility to ensure that the range of economic activity in the west, in all its diversity and variety, was supported and became resilient for the good of all, Professor Shameem said.

 The University of Fiji and the iTaukei Trust Fund Board today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a further three years to continue collaborating on iTaukei education through the University’s Centre for iTaukei Studies (CIS).

In a new arrangement the iTTFB has undertaken to provide two scholarships annually for students studying at the CIS. The MOU also signposts the development of a revised curriculum which includes art, performance and culture as well as resource management programmes and courses through UniFiji’s other Schools such as the School of Business and Economics and the Department of Education in the School of Humanities and Arts.

The University received a grant in the 2024/2025 government budget to build a new Centre for iTaukei Studies which will include lecture and seminar space, staff offices and a gallery for exhibition and performances. The new building which will begin construction next month will provide facilities for implementing the MOU.

The Chief Executive Officer of the iTTFB, Aisake Taito and the Vice Chancellor of UniFiji Professor Shaista Shameem signed the MOU in a ceremony at the Samabula Campus of the University with Council members of the University and staff of both institutions as well as student representatives witnessing the event.

Mr Taito and Professor Shameem expressed their appreciation to their respective institutions for agreeing to continue with the relationship in the interest of iTaukei holistic education through the University of Fiji.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem, emphasized that this partnership is not a new beginning but rather the continuation of a collaboration that started three years ago.

“This time there is much more emphasis on education, the curriculum and joint efforts towards the goals of fostering a better education structure within the Centre for iTaukei Studies of the University, the only such Centre in Fiji, as well as education more broadly aligning with both our Strategic Plans,” she stated.

Professor Shameem also highlighted that plans are already in motion for a new building to house the Centre for iTaukei Studies, with approval from the University Council to construct the facility at the Saweni campus.

“We are embarked on constructing our CIS new building for which the Council approved the site at Saweni on Saturday. Architects have been engaged and we expect to begin construction as soon as the plans are approved and ground prepared,” she added.

iTTFB Chief Executive Officer, Aisake Taito, reaffirmed the significance of the MOU, describing it as a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the Fijian language, traditions, and cultural knowledge while empowering indigenous communities.

“This partnership will support research, documentation, and dissemination of indigenous knowledge, including Vanua institutions and social structures. It will also contribute to scholarly literature authored by indigenous researchers and provide career pathways for young people dedicated to serving their communities,” he said.

Taio further stressed that the collaboration aims to equip future generations with leadership, management, and entrepreneurial skills, allowing them to maximize opportunities within indigenous-owned resources.

University of Fiji Students Association President, Rodney Vakaloloma, welcomed the initiative, recognizing it as a crucial step forward in fostering indigenous education and cultural identity.

“The introduction of two new scholarships, the ongoing curriculum revision under the Centre for iTaukei Studies, and the establishment of a purpose-built iTaukei Centre will provide students with invaluable opportunities to engage with indigenous knowledge, arts, and resource management,” he stated.

“This collaboration not only enhances academic learning but also ensures that future generations remain connected to Fiji’s cultural heritage while promoting inclusivity and understanding among students,” Vakaloloma added.

The signing of this MOU marks a significant milestone in strengthening iTaukei education and cultural preservation. Through this partnership, the University of Fiji and iTTFB are laying the foundation for sustainable initiatives that will empower students, researchers, and indigenous communities for years to come.

The University of Fiji officially opened its new wing at the Samabula Campus in Suva last week with a traditional ‘hawan ceremony’ signifying blessing bestowed to facilitate the best learning experience for the students.

The new wing was completed some time ago, however, due to Covid and other issues, the formal blessing ceremony could not take place until now, the University said.

The ‘hawan ceremony’ was conducted by the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Pundit Bhuwan Dutt with invited guests, staff and students attending. A plaque was installed outside the main entrance to signify the new wing’s formal opening.

The founders of the University, the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, has invested $4.5 million to expand the Samabula Campus to allow for the influx of students in programmes such as law, journalism and media studies, nursing and humanities and arts. The University of Fiji Avant Garde Art Gallery is also housed in the new wing.

The Samabula Campus is home to over 600 students enrolled in the various programmes on offer.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the University’s Physical Planning and Development Committee Chair and President of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Mr Arun Padarath, told those present that Samabula Campus students will undoubtedly take advantage of the expanded facilities at the Campus, and will not only achieve academic excellence but will also develop the human values of integrity,

perseverance and service to humanity which is the foundational philosophy of the Sabha’s educational framework.

“I take this opportunity to encourage the students, faculty and administration to make the best

use of this facility. A great institution is not built merely by infrastructure but by the spirit of

those who inhabit it.”

Mr Padarath said that the building included back-up facilities such as a generator and reserve water tanks to support student and staff needs.

The University of Fiji’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem, said that the University will continue to expand as the student numbers increase.

“The University is nearly 20 years old now, with more than 5000 graduates that we have sent out into the world since the University opened its doors for tertiary education. We have certainly reached a milestone with the dedication of the new wing, an event that can only bring blessings for our work within. A building, built especially for an educational purpose, is more than just a physical structure but is a source of spiritual and psychological strength for those who inhabit it”, she said.