FNU’s TVET students from the College of Engineering, Science and Technology.

The Fiji National University (FNU) endeavors to achieve its strategic planning goal – education for employability – which it sees as a priority in assisting the economic recovery of Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in the ‘new normal’ era, post coronavirus pandemic.

Through the launch of its newly Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Pasifika brand, Acting Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor TVET Dr Rohit Kishore stated they will work closely with the fourteen PICs and tailor-make programmes suitable to their current and future jobs market.

“The PICs are developing nations which are low and middle-income countries, with less developed industrial base and low human development index. Investing in the skills development of such nations through TVET programmes thus becomes a critical component of human capital development,” mentioned Dr Kishore.

“The high unemployment is exacerbated by the skills gap that exists in such nations where a number of graduates are channeled out yet without skills that meet the needs of the economy. FNU TVET programmes will fill the skills gaps by providing the much-needed skills and hands-on training required to progress the economic development of Fiji and the other PICs,” highlighted Dr Kishore.

“We want to liaise and talk to these different countries and their relevant ministries and other authorities to outline our programmes which can be suited to their economy and the jobs market.”

FNU currently offers 280 TVET programmes and has shifted to online learning to ensure that students continue to have access to quality education and training.

Due to the practical and hands-on nature of TVET, students are still adapting to online modes and coping with the changing environment, which remains a major challenge for TVET education during lockdowns and restrictions to face-to-face teaching.

FNU’s Acting Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor TVET Dr Rohit Kishore.

“Nonetheless, we are modernising the delivery of our programmes through the use of the available technology. TVET programmes have workshop based technical and practical type teaching, therefore we teach the theoretical part online and use technologies such as Moodle and Mahara to deliver the practical components to our students,” explained Dr Kishore.

“Also, we are moving on to working closely with our industry partners for completion of the practical components at the student’s workplace. For example, we will teach the theory components online, while allowing students to complete their practical components at their workplaces, under the supervision of their supervisors”.

Dr Kishore stated the TVET Pasifika is committed to supporting the post-pandemic economic recovery of Fiji and other PICs.

“Our vision is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Affinity Group’s vision, which is to advance the awareness and adoption of the SDGs as integral to TVET learning, through knowledge exchange, bridging of experiences and the creation of an engaged community of practice. We want to encompass a diversity of views while working to embed SDG principles through the processes and practices of each institution to ensure no one is left behind. It is also aligned with the Fijian Government’s vision of creating a knowledge-based society.”

“The Fijian government through its scholarship and student initiatives has opened the door for students and school leavers to undertake TVET studies and either join the workforce or become entrepreneurs through small business start-ups.”

Students who are interested in the TVET stream programmes can learn more by visiting https://www.fnu.ac.fj/tvet-pasifika/ 

For all details relating to Admission and Enrolment please email: pritika.m@fnu.ac.fj

For all queries related to programmes, please email: rohitkkishore@gmail.com