TSLS strategic plan prioritizes workforce upskilling and retention amid scholarship expansion
TSLS launched a 2026-2031 strategic plan prioritizing workforce upskilling, including a new postgraduate diploma scheme for employed Fijians with supervisor approval, while pausing some overseas intakes.
TSLS launched its 2026-2031 strategic plan on October 29, 2023, prioritizing workforce capability strengthening through scholarship access for employed individuals. The plan introduces a new local postgraduate diploma scheme for working Fijians and maintains a focus on measurable student outcomes.
Dr. Apisalome Movono, chief executive officer of TSLS, stated the launch focuses on strengthening workforce capability. The program allows people already working, including part-timers, to access scholarships for upskilling and upgrading education. The strategic plan must also strengthen student success, financial sustainability, accountability, digital transformation, and institutional performance.
Postgraduate Diploma Scheme Details
A new local postgraduate diploma scheme enables working Fijians to upgrade qualifications through part-time studies with supervisor approval requirements. Dr Apisalome Movono said: "the postgraduate diploma local scheme will allow working Fijians to upgrade their qualifications through part-time studies." Applicants must be currently working with at least two years of service and obtain supervisor approval.
Policy Continuity and Expansion
2027 scholarship policies will maintain support for in-service public sector programs while pausing overseas intakes to expand other schemes. Support will continue for the in-service public sector scheme, special needs scholarships, national achievement scholarships, and hardship assistance. Pilot training and overseas intake will pause while other scholarship schemes are expanded or revised.
Investment and Outcomes
The government has invested $1.418 billion in tertiary education since 2014, supporting over 33,000 scholarship recipients with measurable retention and completion targets. Esrom Immanuel, the Minister for Finance, Commerce, and Business Development, said: "Government has invested approximately $1.418 billion in tertiary and vocational education since TSLS was established in 2014." That investment includes $843 million in tuition payments and $575 million in student allowances.
Over 33,000 students have received scholarships since 2023, representing over one-third of all TSLS awards. In total, 90,131 students have received support through Government scholarship schemes. The outcomes for these recipients are detailed below.
| Recipient Status | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Graduated | 33,546 |
| Awaiting graduation | 1,323 |
| Active under scholarship | 22,676 |
| Did not complete or had award terminated | 33,070 |
The estimated public investment associated with non-completions is approximately $235 million. Measurable targets and regular reporting are now required to ensure education investment delivers better outcomes. The Minister emphasized that great attention must be given to retention and completion, more than a month of entrepreneurship, where support is required.
Cooperation with the Fiji National Provident Fund helped identify the employment status of graduates. Of 7,528 graduates examined over three years, 3,540 were employed, 1,323 had FNPF records but were not employed, and 2,665 had no employment records. TSLS began digitising over 60,000 historical scholarship files in June 2023, with records dating back to the 1980s. Technologies should reduce processing time, standardise transparency, improve access to services, and provide reliable information for decision-making. Students who are sent on probation and suspended now receive mandatory counselling.
