The School of Accounting, Finance and Economics (SAFE) recently honoured its outstanding first year students of 2020.
Their success was celebrated at a memorable event held on Friday 9th April 2021, in partnership with the Fiji Institute of Accountants (FIA).
USP was represented by the Acting Vice-Chancellor and President, Dr Guilio Massaso Paunga while the FIA was represented by its Vice President, Mr Tarlochan Singh.
Other guests at the event included the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education Professor Jito Vanualailai, Director of the Centre for Flexible Learning Dr Rajni Chand, staff of SAFE, the FIA Secretariat and award recipients and their families.
The School awarded certificates to the top 31 first-year students of 2020 who all achieved GPA scores of 4.0 or above in their eight courses at 100 level.
According to Acting Head of School SAFE, Dr Nacanieli Rika, the recipients included 15 males and 16 females, of whom 2 are enrolled at USP’s Tonga campus.
Dr Rika encouraged students to demonstrate humility in success, behave graciously when someone else performs better, and above all to be themselves with the confidence to pursue their own pathways, visions, and definitions of success.
Mr Rajneel Narayan received the Head of School’s award for the most outstanding first student, accompanied by a cash prize of FJD1,000.
Originally from Rakiraki, Rajneel is pursuing a BCom degree majoring in Accounting and Economics under a Fiji National Toppers Scholarship.
In a recorded video message, alumnus and former SAFE Assistant Lecturer Dr Madhukar Singh - who now lectures at the Australian National University (ANU) –acknowledged the value of his USP degree and assured recipients that their choice to study Accounting was the right one.
Dr Singh reminded students that their future was in their own in hands and the “journey from here may get challenging but perseverance will get you bigger and better rewards.”
At the same event, the FIA presented certificates and cash prizes of FJD500 to each of Fiji’s premier Accounting students of 2020, identified by the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts on the basis of scores in the Fiji Year 13 exams. The awardees are also complimentary student members of the Institute for 3 years. Including the 2020 academic year the Institute has awarded 22 students since these awards commenced in 2016.
Speaking on behalf of the FIA, Mr Tarlochan Singh stated that the Institute sponsors these awards in line with its strategic initiative of creating awareness for future members as well as building the FIA brand. He advised the students to continue to work hard, remain dedicated and focussed. “The opportunities are endless as we provide technical expertise and training and most of all, many opportunities to network with seasoned Accounting professionals of the Institute,” Mr Singh noted.
This year’s recipients are Kristel Andrea Lat Dena (Central Division), Agnes Laila Shah (Western Division), Hetal Solanki (Western Division), Pawan Pranit Kumar (Northern Division) and Teresia Ofa Talei Loco (Eastern Division).
SAFE is delighted that 3 of the FIA recipients are currently studying at USP whilst 1 is enrolled in an Australian university.