University of Fiji Leads with Innovation in iTaukei Studies

The University of Fiji is charting a bold and innovative path for 2025, with a strong emphasis on offering unique iTaukei academic programs.

In an effort to preserve and celebrate iTaukei culture, the university’s Centre for iTaukei Studies (CIS) stands out as the only dedicated center of its kind in Fiji.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem highlighted the center’s role in offering specialized education in iTaukei culture ensuring that indigenous knowledge remains central to academic discourse.

“Our Centre for iTaukei Studies is unique because it’s the only one in Fiji. We’re the only university that offers a dedicated center that is specifically for iTaukei studies—that means culture, language, performance, art, and craft,” said Professor Shameem.

In a landmark move, the university plans to expand the center’s educational activities to Levuka, where traditional chiefs will be appointed as adjunct professors.

“We will be appointing traditional chiefs as adjunct professors. And that’s a real drawcard as far as the people of Lomaiviti are concerned, because they will be the ones benefiting from having the elders teach them about their traditional aspects of their culture or language, if that’s needed, and performance and history,” Professor Shameem explained.

Innovation in Science and Technology

The university is also making significant strides in science and technology education with a focus on emerging fields such as robotics.

“We are concentrating very much on things that are topical at this moment in time, which is, for example, robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain work as well. It’s extremely important to understand artificial intelligence, its limits, its function in society, and its risks,” Professor Shameem emphasized.

She also reiterated the university’s commitment to its student well-being and success.

“Everything that the University of Fiji will be doing in 2025 will be new and innovative. We will not be repeating anything that any of the other institutions will be doing. We believe that to be future-ready, the University of Fiji has to be ahead of the game,” she said.

The University of Fiji’s vision for 2025 focuses on distinctive academic offerings, cultural preservation, and technological innovation, setting a benchmark for higher education in Fiji and beyond.

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