FNU’s Dr Ravinesh Ram (left) and Dr Salesh Kumar (right) at the workshop.

Staff from Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry participated in the Leadership Development Programme 2022, organised by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

The workshop focused on enhancing participants’ abilities to accomplish the main goals outlined in the FNU’s Strategic Plan 2021-2026.

FNU aims to be the premier national University providing relevant higher education, technical and vocational education and training, and research and development in Fiji. As part of the Strategic Plan, FNU focuses on research that has a real-world impact through finding solutions to problems in the agriculture sector.

It also aimed at the promotion of a values-based approach to leadership, strengthening strategic leadership skills, fostering innovation, and engendering strategic thinking, improving personal communication effectiveness, and assisting leaders in developing high-performing teams that contribute to a more robust organisational culture.

The participants also focused on fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger, ensure food security and enhanced nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The workshop also focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

ACIAR Project Officer for Capacity Building, Joy Hardman expressed her satisfaction with the participants’ engagement as her organisation was devoted to the One Fiji approach, in which universities collaborate to discover answers to tackle problems in the agricultural sector.

“The workshop is tied to the two universities’ strategic plans, and it will help them fulfil their respective strategic goals more effectively. The programme also emphasised the importance of attendees being aware of the current epidemic and the necessity for food security and an export base for Fiji’s agricultural products,” said Hardman.

“The leadership development programme benefits people who work in agricultural research. They would be able to focus on the small actions that would help them attain larger goals while also looking at the big picture.”

“On behalf of the Australian government, we are pleased to be collaborating with Fiji on activities to develop the university system in collaboration with FNU and USP.”

Dr Ravinesh Ram, Head of the Department for Fisheries at FNU’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry stated that the workshop would develop their leadership qualities in areas such as research with real-world impact.

“As line managers in our department, the leadership development workshop is critical to our career advancement. It will assist department leaders in the further development of employees, including students, and providing guidance to personnel in meeting FNU’s overall goals,” Dr Ram commented.

“I have developed adequate skills and knowledge to be a member of the organisation in terms of planning, decision making, taking the lead, and looking at the overall system to see how it runs and understand the general operation of an organisation.”

“We need strong leadership in presiding over the entire process and ensuring that the goals are realised, whether at the university level or reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Dr Deeksha Krishna, Associate Dean Research at CAFF, believes that the workshop builds foundational skills, and encourages strategic thinking and team collaboration.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Roland De Marco said the workshop would enhance the qualities of academic leadership that are critical to meeting the goals of the FNU Strategic Plan 2021-2026.

“This is an excellent vehicle for our academics to learn and share ideas and issues affecting the effective and efficient management of people and resources related to academic endeavours. The workshop will allow academic leaders to map out their own strategies and pathways to meeting the goals highlighted in the Strategic Plan,” he said.

“The workshop has contributed to building good leaders and polishing their leadership qualities and collaborating with other stakeholders, organisations, and departments to solve problems affecting the people worldwide.”

FNU Director of Research, Dr Ronald Kumar, also shared similar sentiments to Professor De Marco’s comments. He further stated that the workshop was made possible by the healthy relationship between the FNU research community and ACIAR.

“We have a strong commitment to developing academic and supervision capacity to build a strong research culture at FNU,” Dr Kumar said.

“FNU is committed to developing academic and student researchers and strengthening the research base at the University. The FNU Research Office is working closely with the academic colleagues to deeply engage with ACIAR through staff development and leadership programmes.”

The next phase of the workshop will be held from July 4-8.