Pasifika Communities University

Pasifika Communities University 'Home of "Whole of Life" Education'
formerly, Pacific Theological College
founded, 1961, est. 1965, now operating as Pasifika Communities University.
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About Pasifika Communities University - Home of "Whole of Life" Education. Pasifika Communities University (PCU) is a pioneering institution grounded in Pacific values, culture, and community. Emerging from the Pasifika Communities Learning Network, PCU was born out of a shared vision among educators, community leaders, and development partners who saw the need for an education system shaped by Pa

cific worldviews. Before becoming a university, the movement focused on grassroots leadership, cultural resilience, and local governance — connecting communities through learning and service. Its evolution into a university marks a transition from a community movement to a formal institution, while staying true to its heart and mission. Guided by the Whole of Life Vision, PCU embraces a holistic approach to education — integrating mind, spirit, culture, and community. Our courses combine academic knowledge with real-world practice, empowering students to become confident, culturally grounded, and community-minded leaders. Each program reflects Pacific values of collective learning, service, and respect for creation. Core Areas of Study

Community Development & Leadership
Focused on grassroots engagement, governance, and social innovation to equip students to lead sustainable community change. Cultural Heritage & Indigenous Knowledge
Exploring traditional wisdom, language, and cultural systems that shape identity and continuity across the Pacific. Education for Sustainable Futures
Preparing educators and facilitators to integrate cultural relevance, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship into teaching practice. Youth Empowerment & Social Enterprise
Encouraging young leaders to design initiatives that create social and economic impact in their own communities. Faith, Values & Ethics in Development
Integrating spiritual and moral principles into leadership, development, and everyday decision-making. Research and Applied Practice
Engaging students in community-based research that translates learning into meaningful local impact. Each course is delivered through flexible, community-based learning pathways, combining workshops, mentorship, and applied fieldwork. PCU’s approach ensures that education is accessible, practical, and directly connected to the needs and aspirations of Pacific peoples. PCU continues to grow — shaping leaders who are grounded in culture, guided by faith, and committed to the well-being of Pacific communities.

Recently, the Manu Folau (Vice Chancellor), Rev Prof. Upolu Luma Vaai, was invited by the Liaocheng University in the Sh...
01/09/2026

Recently, the Manu Folau (Vice Chancellor), Rev Prof. Upolu Luma Vaai, was invited by the Liaocheng University in the Shangdon Province of China as their chief guest, delivering lectures, discussing collaborations, and meeting with the director and staff and students of the Institute for Pacific Studies at the University. He also had the opportunity to meet with Pacific island students studying at the university.

One of the key outcomes of the visit is for the Pacific Studies Institute to translate into Chinese all English books published and yet to be published by the PCU Press for educational use in China.

Don't miss the opportunity to sit down and listen to the wisdom of renowned Pasifika theologians and church leaders to d...
01/09/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to sit down and listen to the wisdom of renowned Pasifika theologians and church leaders to discuss hope in the midst of an unstable world, storying theology from and for a 'whole of life' vision.

See the line up of Keynote Speakers who have published, worked, and advocate for a theological storying that is more 'whole of life.' There will also be workshops and roundtable conversations for everyone.

Register now while there is still space.

30/08/2026

A few weeks on from the Pasifika Philosophies Conference, the conversations and reflections continue. Hear from the Director of the Fiji Council of Social Services as she shares her reflections on the conference and the powerful ideas it has opened up around education, community and leadership.

These are the conversations that awaken us, challenge us and remind us that the wisdom we seek may already be living within our people and communities.


These 3 successful candidates from the Methodist Church In Fiji and Rotuma, (L-R, Rev Dr Marika Bale, Rev Dr Isoa Vatani...
28/08/2026

These 3 successful candidates from the Methodist Church In Fiji and Rotuma, (L-R, Rev Dr Marika Bale, Rev Dr Isoa Vatanitawake, and Rev Dr Taniela Ratawa) all received their PhDs from PCU. Dr Bale on the History of Christianity, Dr Vatanitawake in Biblical Studies, and Dr Ratawa in Theology and Ethics.

This landmark achievement stands as a profound testament to the deep, enduring partnership between PCU and its member churches. Throughout years when PTC, now PCU, started its scholarship scheme called "Churches Initiative for Pasifika Scholars", the MCIF had the most students who benefited from its scholarship scheme compared to any of its 20 member churches.

Rev Dr Bale was fully funded by PCU and now work at PCU as lecturer and Chaplain, and Rev Dr Vatanitawake was partly funded. Rev Dr Ratawa was fully funded by the MCIF.

The success of these three leaders reflects their full commitment to their studies without other external obligations, the power of investing in our' people, in our Pacific institutions, in the evolving needs of our communities with deep theological insights and intellectual rigor. Deeply grounded in the understanding for the vanua and a passionate heart to serve God and communities. PCU wishes them all the best.

This week on Wednesday, Rev Isoa Vatanitawake successfully defended his doctoral dissertation titled: "Lukan and Fijian ...
28/08/2026

This week on Wednesday, Rev Isoa Vatanitawake successfully defended his doctoral dissertation titled: "Lukan and Fijian Communities: Towards Restoring Relationships Through iTaukei Cara Sala Framework and Veitalanoa Hermeneutics" in the Biblical Studies discipline and was awarded with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The Pou Tuuloto (Academic Board) and the Uli (Executive Board) have approved his award this week.

Dr Vatanitawake's tuition fee was partly sponsored by PCU towards the end of his doctoral studies when his scholarship funds from his sponsor church was discontinued. PCU offered him a job, funded his tuition fee, in order to complete his studies, a courtesy extended to him as part of PCU's duty of care. Compassion given with the understanding that everyone is special and should succeed.

This is the official announcement of Dr Vatanitawake's successful completion of his studies. Other announcements before this should not be recognised.

The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma stands in celebration, marking a monumental milestone in both higher learning and academic leadership.

Congratulations to Rev Dr. Leinamau Seru on the successful defense of her doctoral thesis on July 3rd, 2026, at Pasifika...
28/08/2026

Congratulations to Rev Dr. Leinamau Seru on the successful defense of her doctoral thesis on July 3rd, 2026, at Pasifika Communities University!

Her groundbreaking work, "Constructing a Theology of Pou Taane: Re-defining Gender Equality in Mele, Vanuatu," marks a profound and transformative contribution to Pasifika theology and gender discourse. By drawing upon rich cultural heritage and faith, she offered a powerful lens through which equity, justice, and human dignity can be reimagined within both church and community contexts.

Rev Dr Seru's full tuition fee during her 3 years of PhD studies was fully funded by PCU under its "Churches Initiative for Pasifika Scholars" (CIPS) scholarship scheme, and part of its push to equip women theologians and scholars for the Pacific churches and the region, and to advocate for the place of women in church and educational leadership.

The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu and the community of Mele have immense reason to celebrate their daughter achieving this milestone.

This is the official announcement of Dr Seru's successful completion of her studies. Other announcements before this should not be recognised.

The Uli (Executive Board), chaired by the Tautai (Pro-Chancellor), Dr Akanisi Kedrayate, held its quarterly board meetin...
28/08/2026

The Uli (Executive Board), chaired by the Tautai (Pro-Chancellor), Dr Akanisi Kedrayate, held its quarterly board meeting yesterday 27th August. Key decisions were made in relation to statutory transition of the governance and operational processes in according with the newly approved University Act, the approval of its 3 year Corporate Plan as the action plan for the PCU 10 year Strategic Plan, including the endorsements of PhD awards to candidates who have successfully completed and defended their dissertations. The meeting was attended by church leaders online, the representative of the Vanua Roko Tuidreketi Ro Teimumu, Manu Folau Rev Prof. Upolu Vaai, external specialists, and the PCU governance team.

26/08/2026

REFLECTIONS & RECAP: Pasifika Philosophies Conference

Two weeks ago at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus, the room was filled with transformative energy as young visionaries, elders, and traditional wisdom holders came together for the Pasifika Philosophies: Leadership Weaving Futures Conference.
The intergenerational panel discussions brought deep insight bridging the rich heritage of traditional knowledge with the urgent climate realities facing our Pacific region today.

Our guest panelist looks back on the intergenerational dialogue and breaks down what true, holistic leadership must look like to navigate today's climate challenges.

This is an interview with one of our youth panelists.

Keep an eye on our page for more,you won't want to miss these powerful insights.

A NIU MOMENTDuring the Philosophies Course this year, mentors and toloa had a "Niu Moment" to celebrate the "Niu Season"...
26/08/2026

A NIU MOMENT

During the Philosophies Course this year, mentors and toloa had a "Niu Moment" to celebrate the "Niu Season". Coconut the tree of life. The participants acknowledged that some parts of the Pasifika Household continue to struggle with a deficit of coconut either due to change of climate or due to liability issue.

In some communities, the Niu is dying due to invasive pests, diseases, and sea level rise and severe storms. In some, human-centred economies contribute much to its demise. Nuts are often removed from Niu trees in tourist attraction areas due to ointmental liability. For this reason, the coconut tree no longer finds home in those communities. Its violent removal has led to the disconnection of those communities from their identity and tree of life.

The course mentors revisited the importance of the how the Niu could be a catalyst for providing ecological ground-up approaches to today's development issues. For example, the Niu embodies the components of resilience, the communities' story of intergenerational security, the slowness and completeness of time to inform the rushness of life, the integratedness of life as opposed to the mechanical compartmentalised offerings of the dominant economic system, and the spirituality of growth. "Unless we reclaim the spirituality of the Niu that informs our stories and identity, we are slowly losing sight of who we are as a Niu community," says the Manu Folau, Rev Prof. Dr Upolu Luma Vaai.

In the late 1980s, out of PTC, now PCU, emerged the 'Coconut Theology' developed by its then Principal, Rev Dr Sione Amanaki Havea, a theological approach that centres the importance of the coconut as a symbol of reinterpreting the incarnational presence and salvation of God for Pasifika people.

In the week of the course, the replanting ritual provided an opportunity for critical reflection and discernment on how the Niu is not just an economic product, but also rather a religious symbol of growth, a knowledge provider, and a framework for communal co-existence and creativity.


A Historic Moment for PCU Congratulations to Pasifika Communities University (PCU) on the passing of its Bill following ...
19/08/2026

A Historic Moment for PCU

Congratulations to Pasifika Communities University (PCU) on the passing of its Bill following the Third Reading in Parliament today.
This is more than the passing of a Bill it is the fruit of a long journey of vision, perseverance, faith and collective commitment. It is a historical moment for PCU and churches of the Pacific.

The Bill was UNANIMOUSLY supported in Parliament with no opposition. During the debate, members who stood up in support said the following.

"There is something unique about this whole of life approach. Whole of life encourages us to look beyond the individual. It recognises our families, communities, our cultures, our values, our economies, and importantly our environment that sustains. That really matters to the Pacific. Honourable Speaker, much of the development thinking around the world has been given by economic growth, to measure how we produce, how much we sell, how much we consume and how much the economy grows. Of course economic development is important. But we cannot think about development only through the lens of capitalism and economic growth, particularly when that growth comes with a cost to our environment and ultimately to our people. We don't simply take. There had to be balance. There had to be responsibility. That is why I think there is value in institutions like PCU that recognises Pacific knowledge wisdom alongside imported academic knowledge. We don't have to be less Pacific in order to become more educated. Neither should we have to discard the knowledge of our ancestors in order to embrace science, technology, and modern development. There is room for both. Perhaps brining those different forms of knowledge together will help us find better answers to some of the problems we are facing today." (Hon. Honourable Naisa Tatau Tuinaceva, Assistant Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport)

“Our society, Mr Speaker Sir, faces unprecedent challenges, the erosion of traditional values, breakdown of communities, and the growing disconnect between education and ethical commission. The PCU Bill address this gap by establishing a ‘whole of life’ education, an approach that integrates education with moral and spiritual development which will contribute to national and regional development goals.” (Hon. Aseri Radororo, Minister of Education of Fiji)

“When we think about all the Universities in Fiji, this one is particularly unique. One, it ties to capture all the different attributes of being Pacific from different countries grounded on the ‘whole of life’ vision." (Hon. Jone Usamate, Member of Parliament)

Our deepest appreciation goes to Madam Tautai (pro chancellor) Dr Akanisi Kedrayate and her team for pushing this work, the PCU executives, the Working Committee, the wider PCU community. Special acknowledgement in particular to our Manu Folau (Vice Chancellor), Rev Dr Professor Upolu Luma Vaai whose leadership, dedication and unwavering belief helped carry this vision forward.

This achievement belongs to everyone who stood together, from the Vaatele (Council), Uli (Executive Board), the PCU community, the Higher Education Commission of Fiji, who had worked tirelessly and believed that PCU could become something truly meaningful for Pasifika communities.

PCU also acknowledges our PCU Lawyer, Mr Wylie Clark, the Minister of Education, Hon Aseri Radrodro, the Solicitor General and Attorney General offices for their commitment to ensuring the Bill is drafted in the most coherent way, and all members of the Fiji Parliament for their tremendous support.

Today, a vision moves closer to becoming a lasting legacy.
A university shaped by Pasifika values, aspirations, grounded in our 'whole of life' philosophies, enriched by our relational wisdom, and committed to recommitting the importance of ethical commission to education, nurturing futures for generations to come.

Congratulations, PCU. The journey has been long, but the dream is becoming reality. The future is calling and Pasifika is ready to answer.


Address

78 Vuya Road
Suva City
6793311100

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:30
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:30
Thursday 08:00 - 16:30
Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Telephone

679 3311100

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