The University of Fiji has achieved a significant milestone with its qualifications successfully recorded by the Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF) for the 2026–2031 accreditation period.
The successful recording follows the University’s Programme Re-accreditation exercise and ensures consistency between the programmes offered by UniFiji and the national regulatory record maintained by HECF.
As a self-accrediting higher education institution established under its own Act, the University of Fiji was required to apply to HECF to have its qualifications recorded. To ensure continuous accreditation, the University, like other education providers, is required to submit re-accreditation applications for all qualifications through the recording process.
UniFiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said the achievement was significant for the University and provided greater assurance to current and prospective students about the quality and standing of its programmes.
“It is not easy to achieve full recording by the Higher Education Commission since the standards are high and the examination of programmes rigorous. The Fiji Qualification Framework recording allows the University to retain its ranking as a top tertiary education provider in Fiji. This means that students and prospective students can feel reassured that their programmes are second to none in Fiji and the region and that they can compete for employment with the best.”
She highlighted that this provides confidence for students and those considering joining UniFiji that the qualifications offered by the University have undergone the required processes and are properly recorded with the Higher Education Commission Fiji.
The Programme Re-accreditation exercise provides an opportunity to verify the current status and approved details of existing programmes and ensures that the University’s programme offerings are consistent with the national regulatory record.
The process required separate applications for each qualification, supported by documentation including course outlines, programme guides, records of consultations with internal and external stakeholders, Senate approvals, staff qualification information, external review reports and graduate destination reports, where applicable.
The accreditation period runs from 2026 to 2031, after which the re-accreditation process will be undertaken again to ensure programmes remain current, meet market needs and continue to maintain the required quality standards.
The successful recording of its qualifications reinforces UniFiji’s commitment to ensuring students have access to quality programmes that remain current, relevant and aligned with national higher education requirements.
The University of Fiji commemorated World Press Freedom Day on Thursday evening with a special screening of the 2024 film Civil War followed by an engaging public discussion on the role of journalism during times of conflict and crisis.
The event, organised by the University’s Journalism and Media Studies students and staff under the UniFiji Press Club, was held at the Lyceum, UniFiji Central Campus in Suva and attracted students, academics, journalists and representatives from media organisations.
Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem shared her reflections on the importance of press freedom and responsible journalism in democratic societies, drawing from her own experiences working within media, legal and public institutions.
She spoke about the role of the journalist as witness during times of conflict and crisis, and the increasing need for ethical, courageous and independent reporting in an era shaped by misinformation, political polarisation and technological change.
Professor Shameem said journalism remained one of the most important pillars of accountability and public awareness. She encouraged Journalism and Media Studies students to appreciate the responsibilities that come with reporting truthfully and fairly, particularly during times of social unrest and uncertainty.
The screening of Civil War generated lively discussion among attendees, with participants exploring themes of war reporting, journalist safety, media ethics, propaganda, censorship and the emotional toll experienced by frontline reporters.
Representatives from several media organisations also participated in the discussions, including Vijay Narayan from CFL, who shared valuable industry insights and perspectives on the realities of modern journalism and the importance of maintaining public trust in the media.
Students actively engaged in the question and answer session, raising critical questions about media neutrality, misinformation, press freedom and the responsibilities journalists carry when covering conflict and humanitarian crises.
The University event reflected continued commitment to fostering critical thinking, ethical journalism and meaningful public dialogue through its Journalism and Media Studies programme.
World Press Freedom Day is observed annually on May 3 to recognise the importance of a free and independent press and to honour journalists around the world who continue to risk their lives in pursuit of truth and accountability.
Journalists should know the difference between reporting the story and becoming the story.
This was the message sent to the University of Fiji’s Journalism and Media Studies students by the Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem to commemorate Press Freedom Day, celebrated internationally on May 3rd.
To examine the essential high bar qualities of reporting, the University’s Journalism and Media Studies staff and students will host Fijian journalists to the film ‘Civil War’ on Thursday 7th May at 7 pm at the UniFiji Central Campus Lyceum in Suva.
Professor Shameem said the 2024 dystopian film depicts veteran and rookie journalists trying to cover a war-torn America and a government in crisis. The plot follows a group of war journalists travelling from New York to Washington DC to interview the President of the United States before rebels take the capital city, she said.
There is no better film to highlight the role of journalists as professionals occupying the highest moral ground, which is often slippery and unclear, she said.
“The University’s JMS Programme is focused on teaching journalism beyond sound bites or picking stories out of social media. We need our students and graduates to understand the duty of a reporter, and that is to report. Personal beliefs, politics and prejudices should be left at the door when you, as students, arrive in the classroom on the very first day in the JMS Programme”, Professor Shameem told the students.
Journalists should also know that their job is a dangerous one. Despite best efforts at protection, no one can guarantee safe passage for journalists. They must enter the profession, not as any job, but as a vocation.
They must aim to uphold the highest standards and derive strength from that principle. “Journalists are like soldiers, knowing that they do the job at their peril, but doing it anyway. Those are the journalists that history will remember”, Professor Shameem said.
She said the film ‘Civil War’ depicted the joys and pitfalls of press freedom in stark reality unmatched by any lecture notes that the JMS course could provide and would also serve as a refresher for established journalists in Fiji.
