Participants pose with their certificates with the FNU Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr William May, after successfully completing the Project Management Workshop.

Twenty-one academics from the Fiji National University (FNU) recently completed a specialised Project Management Workshop conducted under contract by the University of Queensland.

The training programme was centred on project contracts focusing on the full life-cycle of funded research projects including project delivery around financial and budget management, reporting on commercial or aid-funded contracts, and research reporting.

As a future-focused, dual-sector university, FNU undertakes research with real-world impact aligned to national priorities and also of global significance.

FNU Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr William May said the University was committed to investing in the research facilities, infrastructure, and culture through carefully targeted support for priority areas and staff development.

While officiating at the certificate presentation ceremony, Dr May said the knowledge gained by staff will assist in mitigating against the risks of project management at the University.

“You are now well equipped, and we will rely on you to advise us on the different matters. I am excited about your achievements, and your contribution to the University will be immense in terms of research work,” said Dr May.

“I hope the workshop you have attended will assist you in terms of reducing the risk of managing projects and external grants.”

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Roland De Marco said such workshops support the University in the development of its research capacity also involving training and mentorship programmes of research supervisors and early career researchers.

“The workshop will ensure that our academics can better manage the University’s growing portfolio of funded projects, contributing to achieving the goals outlined in the FNU Strategic Plan 2021-2026,” he said.

One of the participants, Dr Shipra Shah, who is an Assistant Professor of Forestry and Seminar Coordinator at the FNU’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), said the workshop was beneficial in terms of research capacity strengthening across the University.

“The workshop focused on several important aspects of project management such as project life cycle including the value of impact demonstration, research budgets, project management software, and the mechanisms of project reporting,” she said.

“The workshop enhanced the competencies of academics to manage their projects efficiently and achieve project deliverables successfully.”

Another participant, Associate Dean Research, Dr Sakul Kundra from the College of Humanities and Education (CHE) said he would share the knowledge gained during the workshop among cohorts.

“I was invited to attend the workshop due to my growing profile intensive research work, and it was an enlightening good learning experience for me. I learnt more about the cycle of project management and how the colleges have to maintain the projects,” said Dr Kundra.

“We have developed important skills and experiences from the University of Queensland presenters in managing the projects and this can be sustainably adopted in Fiji.”

FNU’s Director Research Dr Ronald Kumar said the workshop was a success and provided participants with important insights into sustainable project management.

“The project management workshop is very important to FNU because it provided participants with guidance on handling of projects, and gave valuable information on a variety of tools that may be used in effective project management,” Dr Kumar said.