The Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, and Minister for Defence Industry, Honourable Pat Conroy MP (with garland), standing next to Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honourable Viliame Gavoka, FNU Chancellor and Council Chair Semesa Druavesi Karavaki, and surrounded by FNU Senior Leadership Team members, students of the FNU’s Department of Aviation Studies and experts of the aviation industry at the FNU Namaka Campus.

The Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, and Minister for Defence Industry, Honourable Pat Conroy MP visited the Fiji National University’s Department of Aviation Studies (DAS) at Namaka Campus earlier this month.

Honourable Conroy toured the DAS and had the opportunity to meet with the Australia Awards Pacific (AAPS) awardees and trainers as well as the department’s staff and students.

He was welcomed by the FNU Chancellor and Council Chair Semesa Druavesi Karavaki, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Paul Iji, Pro Vice-Chancellor Corporate Services Tiko Domonakibau, Acting Director Estates and Facilities Kanito Lovobalavu, College of Engineering and Technical Vocational Education and Training (CETVET) Acting Dean, Salabogi Mavoa, the Head of DAS, Vineet Dutt and the Head of Namaka Campus, Rusiate Vakaloloma.

The FNU was also privileged to have Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honourable Viliame Gavoka present, as well as Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji and Australia’s inaugural Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs, Ewen McDonald.

FNU Chancellor Karavaki said the FNU was grateful for the opportunity to meet with Honourable Conroy.

Honourable Conroy, in his address said it was a pleasure to be at the FNU’s DAS, through the Vuvale Partnership.

“It’s really great to be here not just because we are in partnership, the Vuvale Partnership, enhancing and renewing it to grow the Fijian economy, but also to position Fiji as the regional hub. Geographically you are the heart of the Pacific but more and more we are seeing you as the economic hub of the region as well in providing those services,” he said.

“It was great not only to meet Fijian students and alumni but also from the broader region from countries like Kiribas, Tonga, Vanuatu, it was all inspiring because we are the most spread-out region on earth.”

He said it was inspiring seeing what the DAS was doing not just for Fiji but for the entire region.

Honourable Gavoka highlighted that greater days ahead could be seen not only for Fiji but for the region.

“There is a lack of qualified civil aviation people in the world today and the International Civil Aviation Organisation has prevailed on all Governments to take ownership of growing their human resources in civil aviation,” he said.

“We are fortunate that we have FNU that provides training in this field, but it needs to be resourced further.”

CETVET Acting Dean Mavoa said the visit was a significant one and he was glad to see the interest shown by the Australian Government to support the DAS training, not only for Fiji but for the region.

“We have been here for a couple of years, and we started small but now the opportunity to expand this training is here, and we have proven ourselves over the years that we have been providing good training for the people of Fiji and the region,” he added.