The Kingdom of Tonga, is a Polynesian sovereign state and archipelago comprising 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited.The total surface area is about 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) scattered over 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) of the southern Pacific Ocean. The state has a population of 100,651 people, of whom 70% reside on the main island of Tongatapu. Tonga stretches across approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) in a north-south line. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northwest, Samoa to the northeast, Niue to the east (which is the nearest foreign territory), Kermadec (part of New Zealand) to the southwest, and New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu to the farther west. It is about 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi) from New Zealand’s North Island.

From 1900 to 1970, Tonga had British protected state status, with the United Kingdom looking after its foreign affairs under a Treaty of Friendship. The country never relinquished its sovereignty to any foreign power. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive path towards becoming a constitutional monarchy rather than a traditional absolute kingdom, after legislative reforms passed a course for the first partial representative elections. In many Polynesian languages, including Tongan, the word tonga comes from fakatonga, which means “southwards”, as the archipelago is the southernmost group of the islands of central Polynesia. The word tonga is cognate to the Hawaiian region of Kona, meaning leeward in the Hawaiian language.

Tonga became known in the West as the “Friendly Islands” because of the congenial reception accorded to Captain James Cook on his first visit in 1773. He arrived at the time of the ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the First Fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga (the islands’ paramount chief) and so received an invitation to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, the chiefs wanted to kill Cook during the gathering but could not agree on a plan.

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Commonwealth Vocational University, Tonga

The Commonwealth Vocational University (CVU) is a 21st Century new age learning institution providing specialist knowledge and quality education programs in a varied range of disciplines. It is the premier institution of higher learning across the Kingdom of Tonga, in the South Pacific Ocean. The university was issued Certificate of incorporation on 20th August 2014 and the Charter was approved on 14th November 2014.

We take pride in mentioning that it is the native university in Tonga and it is funded by the various International Associations and Chambers’ of Commerce. Currently, the main campus of CVU is in Nuku alofa, Tonga. CVU offers an education that will truly prepare you for challenges and success in the long run. Enroll for your favorite program and begin your tertiary education with us to discover the best of on- campus experience across the globe.

Vision & Mission

Vision

• To deliver the benefits of advanced research and its applications.
• To provide communities and countries in the Pacific region with Relevant , cost effective and sustainable educational solutions,Including entrepreneurship.
• To provide high quality, student-centered education and lifelong Learning opportunities.
• To become a paradigm of tertiary education for the Pacific Islands, With superior quality, governance, application of technology, and Collaboration with national tertiary institutions

Mission

• To achieve excellence and innovation for sustainable Development of the Pacific and Countries.
• To provide people in Pacific with a comprehensive range of Excellent and relevant tertiary educational qualifications.

Objectives & Core Values

• Commitment and loyalty.
• Commitment to regional cooperation and integration.
• Highest standards of governance, leadership, academic freedom, Integrity, and transparency.
• Highest standards of innovation, teamwork and flexibility in the Pursuit of excellence.
• Continual empowerment & rewarding staff excellence

Acts & Approval

The university was issued the Certificate of incorporation on 20th August 2014 and the Charter was approved on 14th November 2014.
University Registration Approval Letter From Ministry Of Education & Training, Kingdom Of Tonga.