The Fiji National University (FNU) provides opportunities to individuals, not just in Fiji but in the region, through various courses and easy enrolment benchmarks for students to upskill themselves.
This was acknowledged by an elated young Tongan national, Hepisipa Matekitonga, who graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) with Honours (Lower Second Class) from FNU’s College of Engineering, Science and Technology last week.
“I started studying at Auckland University, New Zealand in 2015 through a scholarship. Unfortunately, my scholarship got terminated and the courses at FNU were much cheaper so I enrolled here in 2019 with my two years of study also being cross-credited,” Ms Matekitonga highlighted.
“I waited two years to resume study due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Pacific and the world, and I was lucky to get an attachment at an organisation last year for six-months - a core requirement to graduate,” she added.
“In my childhood I used to take apart radios and electrical equipment to see how it worked and to also find faults and try repairing them. So, when I finished high school, I was naturally driven to take up electrical engineering as a career choice.”
“After eight-years of hard work and dedication all this has been worth the wait and I thank FNU for giving me this opportunity to fulfil my dream and my parents and God for always guiding me in the right path,” she added.
Ms Matekitonga adds that “electrical engineering is a male dominated area and as a female, know that nothing can stop you from dreaming big – just have a lot of patience and commitment”.
Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, while officiating the graduation ceremony, applauded the students for their hard work and determination to reach this far.
“I commend the 572 graduates for their tenacity, commitment, and sacrifice,” Minister Radrodro said.
He encouraged the students to pursue opportunities with a goal-oriented ambition and to remain steadfast in their commitment to serving others.
The College has about 15 active higher degree research students with 11 enrolled in Masters by Research programme and four students in PhD programmes.
FNU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said that “it is worth recalling that a diamond can only be formed through the application of immense heat and pressure, and once polished, it becomes a precious gem”.
“Today, you are that precious gem that FNU has polished, and you are now ready to shine bright in your chosen field of work,” Prof. Nabobo-Baba added.
In the 2022-2023 National Budget under the allocation for Higher Education Institutions, the Fiji Government has provided FNU funding of $45.35 million.