Internationally renowned Pacific academic Professor Palatasa (Tasa) Havea with the FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba and FNU Senior Leadership Team.
The Fiji National University (FNU) welcomed internationally renowned Pacific academic Professor Palatasa (Tasa) Havea as an international university visitor, reaffirming the University’s commitment to strengthening regional partnerships, advancing knowledge exchange, and contributing to sustainable development across the Pacific.
Professor Havea’s visit marks an important milestone in FNU’s continued growth and engagement with the global higher education community.
His visit commenced with a talanoa session with the University’s Senior Leadership Team today, where discussions focused on strengthening academic partnerships, research collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange to address the Pacific’s evolving development priorities.
As part of his engagement with the FNU community, Professor Havea delivered a public lecture titled “Reframing Land, Food and Knowledge: A Systems Approach to Sustainable Development in the Pacific.” The presentation highlighted the importance of integrated approaches to land management, food systems, Indigenous knowledge, and sustainable development in addressing the complex challenges facing Pacific Island nations.
Professor Havea identified three common gaps that can limit universities’ ability to contribute effectively to national development.
Internationally renowned Pacific academic Professor Palatasa (Tasa) Havea at the talanoa session with the FNU Senior Leadership Team at the Ofiice of the Vice-Chancellor Boardroom.
“The three common gaps are disconnection, fragmentation and the export mindset. Under disconnection, teaching is not aligned with industry or national strategy. Fragmentation occurs when research, teaching and policy are not integrated, while the export mindset results in graduates being trained primarily for overseas markets,” Professor Havea said.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba welcomed Professor Havea’s visit, describing it as a valuable opportunity to deepen regional collaboration and reaffirmed the FNU’s role in developing solutions for Pacific communities.
“Universities have a responsibility not only to educate but also to generate knowledge that is relevant to the needs of our communities. Professor Havea’s insights challenge us to think more holistically about how teaching, research, innovation and Indigenous knowledge can work together to advance sustainable development across our region,” Professor Nabobo-Baba said.
Following the leadership talanoa, Professor Havea engaged with academic staff from the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), as well as staff from FNU’s Ba and Naduna campuses through a virtual session. The engagement provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on strengthening agricultural education, research, innovation, and regional collaboration.
Internationally renowned Pacific academic Professor Palatasa (Tasa) Havea at FNU’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry farm in Koronivia
Encouraging academics to communicate the impact of their work more widely, Professor Havea stressed the importance of engaging communities throughout the research process.
“Everyone is conducting research in silos. We need to talk to our communities, engage with our people, and seek their support because, by doing so, we connect the dots,” he said.
Dean of CAFF, Associate Professor Dr Kaliova Ravuiwasa, said the visit reinforced the importance of collaboration in addressing critical Pacific challenges.
“The discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration in addressing food security, climate resilience and sustainable resource management. These are critical priorities for Fiji and the wider Pacific, and partnerships such as these, strengthen our ability to respond through education, research and innovation,” Associate Professor Dr Ravuiwasa said.
Professor Havea also toured the CAFF livestock and crop farm, observing the College’s practical teaching, research, and extension activities.
The Fiji National University will host a seminar by Professor Havea on the theme, The Science of Food: From Milk Protein to Food Security in the Pacific tomorrow.