The Honourable Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, today presided over the Oath of Office Ceremony for the newly appointed Commissioners of the Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF).

The new Commission comprises:

• Ms Rokobua Naiyaga (Chair)

• Ro Alumeci Tuisawau

• Mr Romulo Nayacalevu

• Dr Emi Emmanuel

• Ms Indra Devi

• Rt Inoke Momoedonu

In congratulating the Commissioners, Hon. Radrodro thanked them for accepting the appointment and for their willingness to serve Fiji’s higher education sector.

The Minister emphasised that HECF requires the collective expertise, experience and leadership of the Commission to provide strategic direction and oversight as the organisation continues to evolve and respond to national priorities.

He expressed confidence that the new Commission would build on the achievements of its predecessors and raise the standards of the higher education sector to even greater heights.

Hon. Radrodro noted that the Commissioners assume office at a critical time, with several important national priorities requiring their attention, including the continued strengthening and implementation of Fiji’s National Qualifications Framework.

The Minister also highlighted the growing role of HECF and expressed his hope that the organisation would continue to expand, particularly in its monitoring, compliance and quality assurance functions, to meet the increasing demands of the sector.

He reminded the Commissioners of several key challenges facing higher education in Fiji, including:

• Ensuring the continued relevance of Fiji’s higher education system;

• Strengthening the alignment between qualifications and labour market needs;

• Addressing the mismatch between graduate outputs and industry demand; and

• Responding to national skills gaps and workforce shortages.

“The work of the Commission is critical in ensuring that our education and training systems produce graduates with the skills, knowledge and competencies needed to support Fiji’s development aspirations,” said Hon. Radrodro.

The Minister concluded by wishing the Commissioners every success as they undertake their important responsibilities in guiding the future direction of higher education and skills development in Fiji.

The Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF) today marked a significant milestone in Fiji’s higher education sector with the convening of the inaugural Vice-Chancellors’ Forum at the Novotel Lami.

The first-ever Forum brought together Vice-Chancellors and senior university leaders from Fiji’s five universities — the University of the South Pacific, Fiji National University, University of Fiji, Pasifika Communities University, and Fulton Adventist University — for a one-day strategic dialogue focused on the future of higher education in Fiji.

The high-level gathering provided an important platform for collaborative engagement on key issues shaping the sector, including quality assurance, innovation, governance, system strengthening, and emerging developments such as Artificial Intelligence in higher education.

The Minister for Education, Hon Aseri Radrodro, officiated as Chief Guest and highlighted the increasing expectations being placed on universities globally.

“Across the world, universities are facing increasing expectations to deliver quality teaching, relevant research, innovation, and meaningful contributions to national development,” the Minister said.

“At the same time, universities are being called upon to respond to rapid technological change, evolving labour market demands, and the growing need for accountability and efficiency in the use of public resources.”

The Minister also acknowledged the progress of the university review exercise and emphasising the importance of aligning university systems and programmes with the Fiji Qualifications Framework. He stressed the need for effective monitoring of universities — not only for regulatory purposes, but as an essential mechanism for maintaining quality, ensuring consistency, promoting continuous improvement, and strengthening accountability across the higher education sector.

The inaugural Vice-Chancellors’ Forum reflects HECF’s ongoing commitment to strengthening collaboration, strategic leadership, and collective dialogue within Fiji’s higher education landscape.

Participants were encouraged to engage openly, share ideas constructively, and work collectively towards advancing a resilient, innovative, and globally competitive higher education system for Fiji.