Author: Arjun Pillay

The University of Fiji has voiced its support for the Government’s decision to reintroduce the scaling of marks across all national examination levels from 2026, as long as it is an equitable and evidence-based reform that promotes fairness, consistency, and comparability in student assessment outcomes.

The University believes that, normally, scaling, if applied transparently and scientifically, enhances the credibility of national examinations and ensures that all students, regardless of their school location or resources, are assessed on a common and equitable basis.

The University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem, said that while the topic of scaling in education remains a complex and often debated issue, it is important to approach it with both academic integrity and compassion for students’ diverse learning abilities.

“I have myself always personally opposed scaling as a learning methodology because I have felt that scaling merely hides the fact that there are no universally agreed concepts of academic success and academic failure,’ she said.

Professor Shameem said she does not believe that there is anything such as ‘failure’ especially when it comes to young minds. ‘Everyone is worthwhile in my books and if schooling does not suit some people, as long as they receive an education, I support responsible choices in learning,’ she said.

Nevertheless, Professor Shameem said her academic staff at the University had convinced her that the University should support the Education Ministry’s scaling policy as long as it was carried out with checks and balances in place, and by providing the University’s own guidelines to the Ministry, she said.

Elaborating on the academic and technical principles behind scaling, Associate Professor and the Head of the Science Department in the School of Science and Technology, Dr. Ramendra Prasad, explained that scaling is a statistical process used to transform raw marks from different examinations or subjects onto a common metric.

“Scaling is not about inflating or reducing marks,” Dr. Prasad said. “It compensates for inherent differences in exam difficulty, teacher instruction, and marking approaches, ensuring that all student performances are assessed fairly across subjects, schools, and years.”

He said that national examinations involve large cohorts of students and multiple markers across Fiji, which inevitably introduces small variations that scaling helps to correct. This process allows tertiary institutions and employers to make more equitable decisions about admissions, scholarships, and placements.

He also highlighted that transparency and consistency are essential to maintaining public confidence in the system.

“The integrity of the scaling process lies in its transparency and technical accuracy,” he said. “Student rankings must remain intact, high achievers should not be penalised, and low achievers should not be unduly advantaged. A zero should remain zero, and a perfect score should remain perfect.”

He added that well-designed scaling systems use standardised statistical models, such as the normal distribution, to ensure that exam results can be compared objectively across different subjects and years.

The University further noted that scaling supports Fiji’s long-term educational goals by encouraging students to take up challenging subjects such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), computer studies, and commerce fields critical for national development and economic competitiveness.

While acknowledging ongoing public discussion, The University of Fiji maintains that scaling, when implemented with rigour, transparency, and consistency, strengthens the credibility of Fiji’s education system and promotes equal opportunity for all learners.

The University of Fiji remains committed to supporting education policies that are grounded in research, fairness, and international best practice.

Public Relations Office

The University of Fiji proudly joins the global community in marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), an institution that continues to shape a world founded on peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

United Nations Day, observed annually on 24 October, celebrates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945, a milestone that reaffirmed humanity’s collective commitment to preventing war and promoting global cooperation.

As a higher education institution deeply rooted in the Pacific, The University of Fiji recognizes the United Nations as an enduring pillar of international solidarity.

The University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem notes that Fiji’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, climate diplomacy, disaster relief, gender equality, and human rights protection underscore its strong alignment with the UN’s mission.

‘In a world where the moral compass is sadly and hopelessly askew, the UN can show us the light at the end of the tunnel’, she said. ‘At times even that light appears dim but nations can stand together, at least on UN Day, and protect it from ever going out’. The University of Fiji stands at the forefront to ensure that the international legal standard at the base of the UN system retains its integrity over time and geographic space much as it’s so hard to do, Professor Shameem said.

She said that UniFiji further commends the Fijian Government’s initiative to establish a centralized UN House to host all UN agencies in the country. This development is expected to strengthen Fiji’s role as a regional hub for the Pacific, enabling more efficient coordination and collaboration among UN agencies working across diverse development priorities.

The University of Fiji also draws inspiration from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, whose message for this year’s UN Day captures the enduring spirit of the organization.

“The United Nations is more than an institution. It is a living promise spanning borders, bridging continents, inspiring generations. For eighty years, we have worked to forge peace, tackle poverty and hunger, advance human rights, and build a more sustainable world together.”

Reflecting on this milestone, UniFiji reiterates its own commitment to advancing education, peace, equality, and sustainability, values that stand at the heart of both the United Nations and The University of Fiji’s mission to create a more just and resilient world.

Public Relations Office

The University of Fiji proudly hosted a historic international conference at its Samabula Campus, bringing together the Pacific Islands Surgeons Association (PISA), the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), and the G4 Alliance for the first time ever to advance collaborative surgical development across the Pacific region.

The three-day event marked a major milestone for the Pacific’s health sector, attracting leading surgeons, medical specialists, policymakers, and students from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, East Timor, New Zealand, and Australia.

The conference focused on strengthening regional surgical training, improving public health integration, fostering research, and enhancing access to safe surgery, particularly for remote island communities. It also provided a global platform for budding Pacific surgeons to present clinical audits and research projects while encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.

UniFiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem emphasised that hosting this groundbreaking collaboration reinforces the University’s role in shaping the future of healthcare in the Pacific.

“This conference provided an opportunity for the University of Fiji to showcase its expertise alongside colleagues from the region. ‘The papers presented illustrated the complex topics regarding healthcare in the region. While the challenges are myriad in nature and scope, we see that collaboration with other medical personnel at senior level and the Ministry of Health in Fiji, we can find solutions that are appropriate for both Fiji and the wider Pacific’ she said. Professor Shameem said that the University was in the process of determining how to add value to medical research in the region through MOUs and partnerships between the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Science and other universities and medical research institutes in the region.”

President of PISA and Professor of Surgery at The University of Fiji, Professor Ifereimi Waqainabete acknowledged the significance of this partnership and highlighted that this conference is truly a landmark achievement for the Pacific.

“It is the first time that the Pacific Islands Surgeons Association, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the G4 Alliance have collaborated to deliver a unified platform for advancing regional surgical practice. By hosting this historic gathering, the University of Fiji has demonstrated its growing capacity to contribute to surgical training, leadership development and improved access to care across our Pacific Island nations.”

“We are proud that this forum has enabled our surgeons to share innovations, discuss solutions to our shared challenges, and invest in the next generation of Pacific clinicians. The commitment shown here reflects our collective responsibility to ensure safer surgery, stronger systems and a healthier future for all Pacific peoples.”

Dr. Abhijit Gogoi, Associate Professor at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine & Health Sciences (UPSM & HS), also emphasized on the importance of the event.

“Hosting the PISA–RACS–G4 Alliance was a landmark event for UPSM & HS. It provided our staff and students an exceptional opportunity to engage with eminent regional and international surgical leaders, including the Fijian Minister for Health, Hon. Dr. Antonio Lalabalavu, and WHO WPRO Regional Director, Dr. Saia Piukala. We were especially proud to have Professor Ifereimi Waqainabete Professor of Surgery at UPSM & HS, University of Fiji, and a pioneer of this conference deliver one of the keynote addresses, setting the tone for collaborative regional surgical advancement.

“Exposure to such a high-level forum on global surgery, innovation, and regional collaboration has been invaluable. For our students, it was an inspiring platform to witness academic excellence in action, network with leading surgeons, and understand the broader context of surgery within global health. For our faculty, it reaffirmed our commitment to advancing surgical education, research, and capacity-building in the Pacific. This collaboration exemplifies how UniFiji continues to bridge education, research, and community service in pursuit of better health outcomes for our region.”

This landmark collaboration has set a new benchmark for regional medical cooperation. The University of Fiji looks forward to continuing its role as a hub for global–Pacific partnerships that enhance clinical expertise, strengthen health systems, and inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Public Relations Office

The University of Fiji and the University of Canterbury (NZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote academic and research cooperation between the two institutions.

The agreement, signed on 8 October 2025 by UniFiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem and UC Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey, establishes a framework for collaboration that recognises the shared commitment of both universities to advancing higher education, innovation, and cross-cultural academic exchange.

The ceremony was attended by the Executive Deans of the University of Canterbury, including Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva who is the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury. The event also saw the presence of Professor Shameem’s UC Alumni Sociology Masters Class of 1983, Professor Rosemary Du Plessis, Ms Jenny Lee and Ms Joanne Neilson.

Addressing the University of Canterbury Vice Chancellor and Executive Deans, UniFiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said that not only was she a proud Alumni of the University of Canterbury, having graduated with a Master of Arts in 1983, but she also found it significant that, more than 40 years later, she had returned to sign a MOU between her old university and her current one, UniFiji. ‘Having my friends from the Sociology Class of ’83 witness the event was special and served to consolidate the deep-seated connections between the University of Fiji and the University of Canterbury with its historical credentials and top ranking’, she said.

The Vice Chancellor of Canterbury University, Professor Cheryl de la Rey said that under the MOU, the two universities will establish a framework for collaboration in several key areas, including:

• Exchange of academic materials and resources, Faculty in all areas of knowledge and disciplines, staff, and students;
• Development of joint research programmes and academic projects of mutual interest;
• Co-sponsorship of symposia, seminars, and conferences;
• Cooperation in the development of education and training programmes, with potential for joint degree offerings.

She said that with the shared vision for promoting academic excellence and collaborative learning between the two universities, the academic advancement in the region will be consolidated and enhanced.

The new partnership underscores UniFiji’s ongoing efforts to build international academic linkages that enhance the quality of higher education and research across the Pacific. It also aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan focus on ‘Research and Innovation and Community Engagement’, reinforcing its commitment to developing future-ready graduates equipped for global citizenship.

Public Relations Office

In a significant step towards regional integration and academic collaboration, the University of Fiji and the University of Goroka (Papua New Guinea) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at a special ceremony held at the University of Fiji’s Saweni campus.

The agreement establishes a formal framework for joint academic initiatives, research collaborations, staff and student exchanges, and the shared promotion of indigenous knowledge, Pacific culture, and inclusive education.

The partnership is set to span three years, with both institutions committing to long-term cooperation and mutual development.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem emphasized that the partnership went far beyond formalities.

“This is more than a ceremonial signing. It is a mutual pledge to collaborate, share knowledge, foster innovation, and empower the next generation of scholars and leaders across the Pacific,” she said.

“Yumi one people, yumi one solwara, yumi wan Pacific, we are one people, one ocean, and one Pacific family.”

The MoU outlines areas of collaboration including:

• Student and faculty mobility programs
• Joint research, conferences, and symposia
• Development of joint academic programs and curricula
• Shared promotion of indigenous education and Pacific arts, crafts, and music
• Support for underserved and rural student populations

Speaking on behalf of the University of Goroka, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Teng Komhiol Waninga described the occasion as “history in the making” and a long-overdue move to strengthen regional higher education ties.

“This MoU is the start of our long journey together as academics, as Melanesian brothers and sisters, and as people working to improve the lives of our communities,” he said.

“Our dolphins, our whales, our tuna, our birds, they know no borders. Neither should we. This is not just an agreement; it is a marriage of shared vision and enduring commitment.”

Dr. Waninga also highlighted the University of Goroka’s role as Papua New Guinea’s leading teacher training institution and noted areas of synergy in teacher education, curriculum development, and Melanesian studies. He extended an open invitation for further exchanges and visits between the two universities.

Both universities share a strong commitment to educational equity, community upliftment, and the preservation of traditional knowledge systems a commitment that this MoU aims to enhance.

The signing ceremony marks the beginning of a shared academic journey between two Pacific universities rooted in a vision of collaboration, resilience, and unity.

Public Relations Office