Govt scholarships to target accredited courses and workforce needs

Government scholarship funding will be more closely aligned with accredited courses and Fiji's workforce needs under a new partnership aimed at ensuring students graduate with skills employers need.

The Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF) and the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen oversight of higher education institutions, improve quality assurance and enhance collaboration in regulating Fiji's tertiary education sector.

TSLS chairperson Ro Teimumu Kepa said the agreement marked a significant milestone in strengthening higher education.

She said it would improve information sharing, strengthen monitoring of tertiary institutions and ensure scholarship funding supported accredited programmes that addressed Fiji's workforce and development priorities.

Ro Teimumu said the partnership also reinforced both organisations' commitment to student welfare, transparency, good governance and the responsible use of public funds.

HECF commission chairperson Rokobua Naiyaga said the agreement demonstrated a shared commitment to improving outcomes for students and ensuring tertiary education remained relevant to Fiji's future.

Ms Naiyaga said HECF safeguarded the quality and credibility of higher education, while TSLS enabled students to access tertiary education through scholarships and loans.

She said closer collaboration would strengthen planning, policy development and student support.

HECF director Dr Eci Tekuru said the agreement formalised collaboration that had already begun and strengthened the Commission's oversight of Fiji's 54 registered higher education institutions.

Dr Tekuru said accreditation remained a prerequisite for programmes to receive Government scholarship funding, with institutions assessed on teaching quality, learning resources, facilities and their ability to produce competent graduates.

He said the partnership would also allow HECF and TSLS to conduct joint inspections to ensure institutions maintained standards after accreditation.

TSLS chief executive officer Apisalome Movono said the agreement would strengthen cooperation between the two organisations while allowing each to continue carrying out its statutory responsibilities independently.

Movono said that the MOU ensured scholarship funding continued to support only accredited institutions and programmes.

He said both agencies would also share information on enrolment, graduate outcomes and institutional performance to better align higher education with industry demand.

"Scholarships are a privilege funded by taxpayers, and our duty is to ensure students use that opportunity to gain the skills needed to fill Fiji's critical workforce shortages," Movono said.

He said the partnership would help produce graduates with the skills required by employers while ensuring public investment in higher education delivered better outcomes for students and the nation.