Chief Guest and Ministry of Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong presenting a degree at Fiji National University’s (FNU), College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences graduation held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Graduation is a time of celebration of hard-earned certificates, validating skills and knowledge of students in their fields of expertise.

Chief Guest and Ministry of Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong shared these sentiments at the Fiji National University’s (FNU), College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences graduation today.

Dr Fong congratulated the College for the positive collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services over the last 12 months during the global pandemic.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, I congratulate the College for today’s achievement, and for the continued positive collaboration between the College and the Ministry in their area of training, research, health service provision over the last 12 months which have contributed to the success of the students who are celebrating today.

“Despite the many challenges imposed by the global pandemic, the Ministry and the College have forged ahead together, working together, and weaving their way through obstacles and fulfilling the educational and service requirements and meeting our set goal targets for this year.”

“COVID-19 has transformed our way of work, play and study, and for most of you, juggling your online programme and the remote learning together with your own other challenges have been a monumental task.”

“I am confident with your talent, your determination, and the quality of the education you have received; you will positively impact the thousands of lives over the course of your careers.

Graduates of Fiji National University’s (FNU), College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

FNU Deputy Chair of Council, Dr Nur Bano Ali highlighted that the FNU Council’s role is to set the University’s strategic direction to ensure that FNU achieves its learning, teaching, and research objectives.

“FNU is determined to seize the opportunities for innovation and fresh thinking; and, in turn, to create opportunities for our students, communities, nation and region,” she said.

“We certainly have expectations and a strategic vision of where we want the University to be in the next few years. This includes being an institution that all Fijians can be proud of.”

FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lyn Karstadt said graduation is truly a time of great celebration of achievements to acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of every student’s journey at FNU.

“Graduation is an important milestone in your lives, and I am honoured that FNU was your tertiary institution of choice,” Prof Karstadt said.

“It is a proud moment for me to look out towards the sea of blue before me and realise that you have each achieved your academic dreams and will now go forth and excel in your specialised areas.”

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) graduate Pranil Naidu said his journey as a student at FNU was one he will always remember.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) graduate Pranil Naidu.

“My experience at FNU was amazing. The lecturers here were supportive, and they helped me a lot in this six-year course. I am very grateful to them. If you are thinking of studying MBBS, then FNU is the place for you,” he said.

The 24-year-old from Lautoka was one of 789 students who graduated from CMNHS today. This includes 209 Postgraduate, 493 undergraduate and 87 Diploma and Certificate-level graduates.