4,500 Fijian students are studying in Australia and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad says this reflects the importance of Australia’s role in Pacific education and regional integration.
Professor Prasad highlighted this while visiting the University of Melbourne where he met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Wesley, senior academics, research fellows, and Fijian students currently studying at the university.
The Ministry of Finance says discussions centered on how the University of Melbourne and its Oceania Institute can deepen support for Fiji and the Pacific through education, research, and policy collaboration.
They say the Oceania Institute serves as a key platform for regional engagement, bringing together nearly 200 staff and research students and partnering with more than 60 organisations across the Pacific.
Professor Prasad also acknowledged Australia’s important contribution to education and research in Fiji.
He says this is “Australia’s century in the Pacific” and highlighted that deeper and more meaningful regional integration will bring wider benefits to the region.
The University of Melbourne reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the Oceania Institute is of practical value to the Pacific and signaled plans to expand its engagement across the region.
The Ministry says they will work with University of Melbourne research fellows on joint studies in priority policy areas including social protection, poverty alleviation, health economics, taxation, and climate change.
They add this collaboration will provide practical insights and help strengthen Fiji’s economic and fiscal policymaking.
