Koila Lees Finau always had a keen interest in science and the environment.  While growing up, she constantly desired to improve the health of the ecosystems and the planet and to fulfil her passion for becoming an innovative custodian of the land, its biodiversity and its heritage; she enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management programme at Fiji National University (FNU).

Twenty-two-year-old Finau believes the natural landscapes, due to impacts of climate change, deforestation, pollution and other issues, face challenges like never before. To increase her knowledge in environment management, she enrolled in the programme offered by FNU’s College of Engineering, Science and Technology (CEST) at Lautoka Campus.

“I was attracted to FNU because of the hands-on approach to learning. In addition, the lecturers are so approachable and knowledgeable and provide a lot of support to students,” said Finau.

“I love studying at FNU because of the strong student community, the focus on the environment and sustainability and most importantly, the campus has a rural backdrop which is surrounded by lush trees,” she said.

Currently, in her second year of studies, according to Finau, the Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management) programme so far has equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to strengthen the country’s environmental issues.

“I chose to do management because I wanted to learn how regulations that help protect the environment can be strengthened while also improving the quality of life; I have learnt a lot in the past semester and am looking forward to applying this knowledge to the real world.”

“The programme includes a lot of hands-on lab exercises that introduce us to some common data collection techniques, and we learn how to use specific software such as Geographic Information System (GIS), which is very important for when you’re in the workforce.”

“Learning about the planet and its inhabitants is very interesting if you genuinely understand the ongoing issues in the world, not just climate change in the Pacific but also other environmental issues that are consequential to everyday injustices.”

After graduating, Finau hopes to get a job to protect the environment from established and potential threats and continue upgrading her studies on a part-time basis to a postgraduate level in Environmental Management.

Interested students can visit the FNU website on www.fnu.ac.fj  to learn more. Enrolment for Semester 2, 2021 is currently underway.

Prospective students can also text on 857 or email on admission@fnu.ac.fj if they face difficulties completing the process online or need further information on enrolment.