Following Cabinet approval, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has just convened the first virtual meeting of the 2026 National Research Council.
Radrodro appointed an interim council chaired by Professor Dharmendra Sharma, made up of Permanent Secretary for Education Navin Raj, Permanent Secretary for Strategic Planning Peni Sikivou, Professor Satish Chand, Dr. Penuel Emi, Professor Steven Ratuva, Dr. Tarisi Vunidilo, Dr Paul A. Iji (FNU), Dr. Shobna Maharaj (UniFiji), Professor Bhivya Sharma (USP), and Joeli Ditoka.
He says the National Research Council will appoint the Interim Director and Principal Administrative Officer.
The Minister says the team’s immediate priority is to establish the National Research Council Office and its operations through the review of the National Research Council Act to strengthen its functionality.
He says the National Research Council will also be tasked with the development of a national research database alongside a competitive, transparent database of expert profiles to serve as grant application reviewers.
Radrodro says beyond state governance, the National Research Council will play a central role in guiding and coordinating research priorities that support Fijis sustainable economic, social, environmental and technological advancement.
He adds that the NRC is set to transform Fiji's higher education landscape by establishing a clear national research agenda, the council will signal to universities the specific data gaps the nation needs filled.
Radrodro also emphasised that the council’s framework will deeply integrate Fiji's heritage to protect national intellectual property, ensuring that modernisation does not come at a cultural expense.
