Concerns grow over delays and integrity of Fiji’s university review report

Concerns have emerged over delays and the integrity of the review report on Fiji’s three major universities.

Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro says that the Higher Education Commission set up the External Review Committee to assess the quality and operations of Fiji National University, the University of the South Pacific, and the University of Fiji.

Radrodro confirmed that the universities were given the report to provide feedback.

He says that Fiji National University seemed to reject the report in its entirety, citing a lack of credibility, methodological flaws, and the inclusion of defamatory statements against its senior leadership.

The Minister says that the University of Fiji, while acknowledging minor factual errors, accepted the report in good faith and is now working towards its full implementation.

He adds that the university's Planning Committee and Council are currently considering an implementation roadmap over a 12-month period.

Radrodro says that the University of the South Pacific offered a professional rebuttal, asserting that the report was methodologically weak and professionally inadequate.

Opposition MP Hem Chand criticised the slow pace of the review, pointing out that the committee was established over 18 months ago and the report should have been finalised by now.

Radrodro says that the review process remains ongoing, with plans to appoint an independent person to review the report before it is officially tabled.