A series of landmark events are scheduled to take place within the coming months that will highlight Fiji National University’s transformation as a pre-eminent national university of the region.

Speaking during the university’s graduation ceremony in Labasa last week, vice-chancellor Prof Nigel Healey said this year

FNU would graduate its first PhD students.

In the digital domain, Prof Healey said the university would complete the installation of the $20 million Ellucian Banner 9 software, one of the biggest software projects in Fiji recently.

“Banner 9 will give FNU an integrated university information management system that will move all our processes and procedures online, bringing about a stepwise increase in our productivity,” said Prof Healey.

“As part of our drive to create a world-class learning environment, 2020 will see us open four major new facilities — a new greenfield site campus here in Labasa, a new four-storey business school at Nasinu campus and a new threestorey teaching facility at Fiji Maritime Academy to support the new Bachelor of Nautical Science, a program to train ship captains and master mariners.

“The fourth facility, a new sports complex at Nasinu, is part of our wider drive to address the scourge of NCDs and help to change the lifestyles of our staff and students by making recreational sports and exercise part of their normal routines.”

Prof Healey said the institution had also made great progress in the development of the Labasa campus.