Fiji’s animal health sector will get 33 graduates from the Fiji National University (FNU) who have made history by successfully passing the country’s first-ever locally conducted Veterinary Examination, qualifying them for registration as veterinarians.
The achievement, celebrated at FNU’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF) in Koronivia, was the result of a decade-long effort by the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (MOAW) in partnership with FNU, with support from the Fiji Higher Education Commission and international partners.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways, Dr Andrew Tukana, hailed the event as a major step forward.
“This is the first time Fiji has conducted its own veterinary examination, and it represents a major step forward for the profession and for our agriculture sector,” Dr Tukana said.
“These 33 successful candidates are now eligible to be registered as veterinarians in Fiji, and their expertise will also be invaluable across the Pacific where there is a chronic shortage of veterinarians.”
Dr Tukana noted that the milestone was made possible through Cabinet’s endorsement, strong collaboration with FNU, and technical assistance from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
“This sets the way forward for closer collaboration between the Ministry, FNU, and the Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) as we develop future training and practical opportunities for our students,” he added.
FNU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Paul Iji, reflected on the long and challenging journey to this point.
“For more than ten years, we have been striving towards this milestone, and today we celebrate not just results, but resilience and partnership,” Prof. Iji said.
“We never forgot our students, and with the Ministry’s unwavering support, we have opened the doors for them to contribute meaningfully to animal health, food security, and the wider community. This is only the beginning.”
The examination was coordinated by veterinary professionals Dr Anand Deo and Dr Kenneth Cokanasiga.
