University Of Fiji Head Adamant Of 2023 Professional Outcome

Despite inadequate funding from the previous government, the vice-chancellor of the University of Fiji, Shaista Shameem, is adamant that the institution will be ‘simply the best’ this year.

“It is not clear to me yet whether in Fiji we all uniformly see education in a positive light for development of the nation and as part of the post- Covid Fijian Renaissance,” she said.

According to Ms Shameem, the three sectors for the renaissance of people, place and planet are reformed educational policy, information widely and openly available to everyone and advocacy for the public good.

Ms Shameem said to ensure development, it was important to create an informed, intellectual and expressive society.

This is all part of her top three desired professional outcomes for 2023 including a time for equality in the treatment of all higher educational institutions.

“Our young people in Fiji, who are incredibly smart, must be given more respect than to be seen merely as industry fodder,” he said.

“I sometimes wonder if that change in perspective is possible due to the hierarchical traditional structures we have.

“The Fijian leaders will know quite starkly, in view of the events of the past few weeks, that there is a crisis in confidence in leadership in Fiji.

“No one is immune from the silence exemplifying lack of confidence in people and institutions. Thus no one should rest on their laurels.”

She said in the long run only education would make the odds better in favour of those exercising public good leadership.

“We teach University of Fiji students that power resides in knowledge and analysis of that knowledge for the good of humanity,” she said.

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