In 2024, FISU Oceania is featuring a number of universities from across the region. This week, we feature Fiji National University (FNU) who have supported student success in the areas of sport and recreation.
The Fiji National University was established in its current form by the merger of six tertiary institutions in 2010 and the university now has 16 major campuses and centres with over 2,000 students. All students have the opportunity to excel in their academic field as well as participate in opportunities and experiences that assist the student to grow personally and professionally.
Sport is woven into the fabric of the university and students, staff and the local community are encouraged to stay active and reach their potential in sports and fitness. Currently the university has a number of sports facilities across all campuses, but the jewel in the FNU crown is certainly their new sports facility – the FNU Fitness and Wellness Centre.
The FNU Fitness and Wellness Centre was established on the Nasinu Campu of the university in 2023. The facility houses a fitness area, a multipurpose court on the ground floor and four sports science classrooms on the top floor. Bringing this facility to life was a passion for all involved.
This state of the art facility has provided an opportunity to expand competition opportunities as part of the annual Fiji University Games and for local community sport. The facility hosts not only competitions, but also provides valuable learning spaces for students studying sports science and sports education.
There are three main sports courses on the campus. Students can study to receive a certificate or diploma in sports science or they can complete a Bachelor of Sports Education and Exercise Science. The Bachelor Degree program will in fact welcome its first ever graduates in 2024.
Presently, the majority of the FNU Sports Science graduates are working in the Sports industry as club coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, trainers, sports development officers, while two are now employed by FNU as assistant instructors in the Sports Science program. There are also FNU graduates working with the Olympic Gold Medal Flying Fijians Rugby 7s team. The National Rugby 7s team is supported by an FNU graduate in the role of the team strength and conditioning coach. Many of the current and former Sports Science students have represented Fiji in various sports competitions and are contributing to the sports excellence in the country.
Being the only university in Fiji that offers sports science programs, the university hopes to establish a Centre of Sports Excellence to promote and further develop sports in the country.
For more information about Fiji National University, visit their website.
For more information about university sport in the Pacific, contact us.
