Minister Tabuya urges Fijian students in Hawaii to bring skills back home

Fiji’s growing demand for skilled, disciplined and socially grounded professionals took centre stage as Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya held a talanoa with Fijian students at Brigham Young University (BYU) Hawaii on Saturday, January 10, urging them to bring their skills home to help tackle some of the nation’s most pressing challenges.

Speaking to students at the Polynesian Cultural Centre, Ms Tabuya painted a sobering picture of Fiji’s social realities, rising HIV cases, youth drug addiction, untreated trauma, violence affecting two in three women and five in six children, and more than 80 suicides recorded in recent years.

“These are not just statistics — they are lives, families and communities that urgently need skilled, compassionate and culturally grounded professionals,” Tabuya said.

She said Fiji faced acute shortages of psychologists, social workers and trauma-informed practitioners, adding that new policies such as the Child Justice Act were increasing demand for graduates with both professional training and cultural understanding.

The minister was briefed on the BYU-Hawaii I-WORK programme, with presenter Vika Ratuvukivuki explaining that students work up to 19 to 20 hours during semesters and up to 40 hours during summer breaks, mainly at the Polynesian Cultural Centre or on campus.

The programme helps offset education costs while building discipline, accountability, service and time-management skills.

Students also spoke about challenges such as balancing work and study, homesickness during holidays and the pressures faced by student parents raising children far from home.

Between 2020 and 2025, 506 Fijian students enrolled at BYU-Hawaii, with 67 graduates so far and more than 100 students enrolling in a single post-COVID year.

Graduates are emerging in fields including psychology, political science, social work, business, tourism, construction and facilities management — skills the minister said Fiji urgently needs.

Industry insights shared during the session pointed to shortages in skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters and joiners, as well as demand for project managers, engineers, safety officers and quality assurance specialists.

Students were also told businesses in Fiji were losing thousands of dollars daily due to poor punctuality and attendance, while gaps remain in accounting, auditing, marketing and digital skills.

Ms Tabuya said BYU-Hawaii graduates stood out for their strong work ethic, international exposure, technological skills and faith-based grounding, as well as graduating largely debt-free.

Her eldest daughter, Mercedes Swann, shared her experience of returning to Fiji to pursue agriculture and now runs a commercial farm supplying major supermarket chains.

Students were also briefed on upcoming large-scale developments in Fiji, including a national rugby stadium, cultural facilities and resort projects expected to create jobs across multiple sectors.

Ms Tabuya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding internship and graduate pathways within ministries and statutory bodies.

“Fiji needs you and there has never been a better time to come home.”