The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is facing difficulties in funding its strategic plan for the Pacific Theological College (PTC) to transition into a university by 2024.

Plans for the college to transition into a university started in 2010 with its strategic plan launched four years ago with the theme, theological education for leadership to justice to guide the institution transition.

PTC principal, reverend professor Dr Upolu Luma Vaai said funding was always a challenge towards a new development.

Dr Vaai said the PTC was being funded by its regional and international partners and the 20-member countries.

“We are also seeking funding on this as well. A fundraising community is working on seeking funding,” he said.

When questioned as to how the institution was planning to hire lecturers, he said they would see when the time comes.

“But, at the moment the institution was hiring teachers for the PTC from overseas. My team at the moment is an international team,” he said.

He said they would be handing the new sets of programmes to the regional Higher Education Commissions for approval of new programmes, the institution was planning to offer.

He is ensuring all legal procedures are being followed by the institution

“Hopefully by 2024 we will launch the university. The programmes offered by the institution was already university level, we have certificates right up to doctrine level,” he said.

“We want to transition into a fully university meaning that we want to add other schools that are not part of the college.”

He said the institution would be renamed as the Pasifika Community University when it transitions into a university 2024.

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