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The University of Fiji is bringing creativity and culture together at its Suva Central Campus through a five-day workshop celebrating the vibrant traditional art of Madhubani painting. The workshop offers participants an opportunity to explore their artistic talents while gaining a deeper appreciation of cultural heritage, artistic expression and the preservation of traditional art forms.

The workshop, titled “Celebrate Creativity and Preserve Tradition,” was held in the collaboration with the High Commission of India, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and the Suva Multicultural Centre.

The programme brings together members of the University community, art enthusiasts and participants from across the wider community for an opportunity to learn traditional artistic techniques while gaining insight into the cultural stories behind them.

The first day focused on Madhubani painting, a traditional art form from the Mithila region of Bihar, India. Participants were introduced to the origins and significance of the art before trying their hand at its distinctive patterns, symbols and designs.

Under the guidance of Madhubani art facilitator Rashmi Alawat, participants began with basic pattern work before moving towards a canvas-based artwork inspired by the “Tree of Life.”

The session provided a hands-on learning experience, allowing participants to move beyond simply observing the art form and actively engage with its techniques.

Acting Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Ishwar Singh Yadav, said programmes such as the workshop create opportunities for people from different communities to connect through creativity.

Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency, Suneet Mehta, also highlighted the wider significance of bringing traditional Indian art to Fiji, describing the initiative as an opportunity to build friendship and cultural understanding between the two countries.

The workshop also introduced participants to different Madhubani styles, including Kachni, Bharani, Godna, Kohbar and Tantric, while showcasing the use of detailed patterns, strong outlines and symbolic imagery.

For the University of Fiji, the workshop adds another dimension to its role as a space for learning, cultural engagement and community interaction, giving participants an opportunity to learn about a tradition beyond the classroom.

In her closing message, the Minister reminded young people that they are already leaders capable of shaping Fiji’s future.

The programme will continue through 31^st August at the YWCA Building on 1 Central Street, Suva, with upcoming sessions covering creative forms such as weaving, mixed-media painting, screen painting and bottle painting. Certificates were presented to registered participants at the conclusion of the opening session.

As the workshop continues, participants will have further opportunities to develop their artistic skills, explore cultural traditions and build connections through shared creative experiences.

 

 

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 has launched its HIV Prevention, Care and Awareness Campaign, strengthening its commitment to public health advocacy and empowering young people to play an active role in Fiji’s response to HIV.

Launched at the Saweni Campus in conjunction with International Youth Day 2026, the campaign brought together students, staff, health professionals, government representatives and community stakeholders to promote HIV prevention, testing, care and the elimination of stigma.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said that it is clear from the evidence we have received from our medical experts that effective and sensitive education is the key to HIV prevention among young people.

“All the resources that we can possibly spare at UniFiji will be deployed to explain to those particularly vulnerable that they do not have to become a HIV statistic”.

The campaign was officially launched by the Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Penioni Ravunawa, who called for greater youth involvement in addressing Fiji’s HIV epidemic.

Hon. Ravunawa highlighted that Fiji recorded 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025 compared with 245 in 2022, with two-thirds of those diagnosed in 2025 between the ages of 20 and 34.

“These are not merely numbers or statistics. Behind every diagnosis is a person, behind every person is a family, and behind every young person is a future,” he said.

Urging young Fijians to “Know Your Status,” Hon. Ravunawa emphasised the importance of regular testing, prevention, early treatment and eliminating stigma against people living with HIV.

“Fight HIV, fight misinformation, fight stigma, but never fight the person living with HIV,” he said.

The University’s Medical Practitioner and Officer to the Registrar, Dr Ame Ralulu Nasokia, who led the campaign, said the initiative was designed to provide students with practical knowledge and access to services to help them make informed decisions about their health.

He highlighted that HIV prevention begins with accurate information, responsible choices and access to testing.

“We also need to remove the fear and stigma that can prevent people from seeking help. We want our students to understand that knowing your status is an important step in protecting yourself and others,” Dr Nasokia said.

The campaign featured educational sessions, student debates, expert discussions, quizzes, entertainment and free HIV testing, creating an interactive environment where young people could engage with health professionals and access reliable information.

As part of its practical approach to prevention, the University also intends to introduce condom vending machines across its campuses.

Hon. Ravunawa commended the University for acting and encouraged students to carry the campaign’s messages into their homes, friendships and communities.

“Your influence matters. Use it positively,” he said.

The University of Fiji HIV Prevention, Care and Awareness Campaign reflects the University’s commitment to student wellbeing, community service and public health advocacy, while contributing to the wider national effort to prevent HIV and eliminate stigma and discrimination.

Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) students from The University of Fiji, Suva Central Campus, gained valuable practical exposure to Fiji’s media industry during the JMS Media Tour 2026, visiting three leading media organisations.

The educational tour began at the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), where students were introduced to the operations of a professional broadcasting organisation.
The visit provided students with an opportunity to observe how news and other media content are produced and delivered to audiences.
The students then visited The Fiji Times Limited, gaining insight into newspaper journalism and the processes involved in news gathering, reporting, editing and publication.
The final stop on the tour was Communications Fiji Limited (CFL), where students were exposed to another area of the media industry and learned about broadcasting, newsroom operations and media production.

JMS Administrative Assistant Avitesh Ram said the media tour was an important part of giving students practical experience beyond the classroom.
“A media tour helps JMS students move from ‘learning about journalism’ to ‘experiencing journalism,’” Ram said.
He said visits to professional media organisations allowed students to better understand how the concepts and skills taught in the classroom are applied in real newsroom and broadcasting environments.

Milika Rabulu, a JMS Year 2 student, served as the overall student media tour guide, helping guide and coordinate students throughout the tour.
For first-year students, the tour offered an opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of journalism as a profession.
Rishika Nair, a JMS Year 1 student, described the experience as informative, exciting and enjoyable.

“My overall experience during the JMS Media Tour was very informative, exciting and enjoyable. As a student, I had the opportunity to visit different media organisations and see how journalism works in a real professional environment,” Nair said.

She said interacting with media professionals helped her gain a better understanding of the practical responsibilities of journalists.

“I learned a lot from the media professionals, especially about news production, broadcasting and the daily responsibilities of journalists,” she said.
Another JMS Year 1 student, Risha Maharaj, described the JMS Media Tour 2026 as a valuable practical learning experience.

“I would describe the JMS Media Tour 2026 as a very informative and practical learning experience. It gave us an opportunity to step outside the classroom and see how the media industry actually operates,” Maharaj said.

Maharaj said the visits to the three media organisations exposed students to different areas of the journalism and media industry.
“Visiting organisations such as the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation, The Fiji Times, and Communications Fiji Limited allowed us to observe different areas of journalism, broadcasting, news production and media operations,” she said.

The JMS Media Tour 2026 provided students with an opportunity to connect classroom theory with real-world journalism practice. It also allowed them to observe the professional environment, interact with media practitioners and gain a better understanding of the skills and responsibilities required in the industry.

For the students, the tour served as an important learning experience as they prepare for future careers in journalism, broadcasting, digital media and communications. The tour highlighted the importance of experiential learning and industry exposure in journalism education, giving students a practical understanding of Fiji’s evolving media landscape.

Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics could significantly transform the way elections are analysed, public policy is developed and universities prepare students for the future, a University of Fiji Press Club session has heard.

The University of Fiji Press Club hosted its August session on Monday, 10 August 2026, at the University of Fiji Suva Central Campus, featuring international governance and strategy specialist Mr David Elbourne.

The session focused on the provocative theme, “What If We Already Know Who Is Going to Win the Election? – The Case for Artificial Intelligence and the High-Value University.”

The presentation examined how artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics could be applied to journalism, political analysis, government decision-making and education.

UniFiji Vice Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem said ‘it was heartening to see the Press Club providing cutting edge opportunities to established journalists and journalism students at the same time, allowing total involvement of both in a symbiotic relationship’.

Mr Elbourne drew on his international experience in Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as his background in data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital transformation and organisational strategy.

At the heart of the discussion was the question of whether available historical and contemporary data could be used to develop analytical models capable of forecasting election outcomes. Mr Elbourne explained that such models could examine political party performance, online visibility, controversies, funding and resources, candidate distribution, economic conditions, previous election results and other factors.

However, he stressed that predictive analytics should not be mistaken for certainty. “This model does not remove uncertainty. It measures it,” he said, highlighting the fact that elections remain influenced by factors that cannot be accurately predicted, including voter turnout, vote switching, party alliances, campaign effects, future events and individual voting decisions.

Mr Elbourne said the development of an effective predictive model begins with understanding what is already known and identifying the areas that remain uncertain. By assigning weightings to different factors and combining qualitative and quantitative information, analysts can develop a framework capable of producing probability-based assessments rather than absolute predictions.

He told students that the approach was not limited to elections and could potentially be applied to areas including climate change, economic development and infrastructure planning. “It’s not specifically only to elections,” he explained, noting that the same analytical approach could be adapted across different industries and areas of decision-making.

The presentation also introduced the relationship between predictive analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Mr Elbourne described predictive analytics as part of machine learning, which in turn forms part of the broader field of artificial intelligence. He encouraged students to begin developing their own analytical frameworks and consider how university research and ideas could eventually become intellectual property.

The discussion also raised important questions about the ethical implications of using AI in elections and public life. The University of Fiji opening address noted that while AI can identify patterns, analyse large volumes of information and support evidence-based decision-making, it also raises concerns about data ownership, manipulation, public opinion and democratic participation. “Can we trust what AI tells us? Who controls the data? How do we distinguish information from manipulation?” the university representative asked. For journalism students, the implications are particularly significant.

The session emphasised that the growth of AI does not reduce the importance of journalists but instead places greater responsibility on them to verify information, understand data and exercise ethical judgement. The university noted that future journalists will require not only traditional reporting skills but also data literacy, critical thinking, ethical judgement and the ability to question information produced by technology.

The Press Club was also presented as an important platform for students to engage with issues beyond the classroom. Established as an initiative of the Journalism and Media Studies Programme, the club provides opportunities for students to interact with journalists, policymakers, academics, professionals and community leaders while developing practical knowledge and professional skills.

Mr Elbourne further argued that universities have an important role to play in helping Fiji move beyond simply adopting technologies developed elsewhere. He said universities could become engines of innovation by turning research into intellectual property, intellectual property into industries, and industries into employment, exports and national prosperity. A key message from the session was that data alone has limited value unless it is properly organised, interpreted and transformed into knowledge.

Mr Elbourne explained that the progression from data to information, knowledge and applied intelligence is essential if Fiji is to develop systems capable of supporting more informed decisions. The session concluded with a broader challenge to universities, journalists and students to prepare for a future in which AI will increasingly influence professional and social life.

Rather than viewing artificial intelligence simply as a technological development, the Press Club discussion framed it as an issue involving democracy, journalism, ethics, education, public trust and national development.

For Fiji, the message was clear: artificial intelligence may provide powerful tools for understanding the future, but the quality of the outcome will ultimately depend on the quality of the data, the people interpreting it and the ethical frameworks guiding its use.