Strengthening Fiji's Workforce: 9 Higher Education Institutions sign new grant deal

Nine Higher Education Institutions in Fiji signed the 2025–2026 Grant Agreement at the Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) office in Suva today.

Three of the nine institutions — Pasifika Communities University, Pacific Technical Institute, and Davuilevu Theological College — are first-time recipients of government grants.

Speaking during the ceremony, FHEC Chairman Steve Chand said that to prepare Fiji’s workforce for the country’s future demands, the institutions must ensure that Fijians are fully trained.

Chand states that the Commission will no longer allow Higher Education Institutions to run programs that have no meaningful pathway to improvement, adding that it does not make sense if one cannot equate qualification to capability.

He urges institutions to identify the existing skills gaps and stressed that it is important for the government’s investment in these institutions to be justified, as they are expected to train students and ensure that they at least have a pathway and capability after the conclusion of their programs.

Chand also notes that the investment is designed to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the workforce by providing students with access to quality education and professional opportunities.

He adds that there were nine key criteria that institutions had to meet to qualify for the grant, and all nine successfully met those criteria.

The nine institutions are University of Fiji, Pasifika Communities University, Fulton College, Montfort Boys Town, Montfort Technical Institute (Savusavu), Sangam Institute of Technology, Vivekananda Technical College, Pacific Technical Institute, and Davuilevu Theological College.