Mike Kamekaso
Three years ago Mike Kamekaso of Solomon Islands moved to Fiji with the determination of fulfilling a childhood dream of having a successful career in the maritime industry.
Leaving behind his comfort zone, Kamekaso enrolled in the programme Diploma in Nautical Science offered by Fiji National University’s (FNU) Fiji Maritime Academy (FMA).
“From an early age, I used to envision myself standing in the wheeler room (Bridge or Wheel House) and also hoped to become a port pilot one day,” said Kamekaso while sharing his aspirations.
Despite facing strong opposition from his family about this choice of career, Kamekaso stood firm in his decision of becoming a seafarer and successfully completed the programme last year.
“Though this was my childhood dream, I also took into consideration the current trends and the competitive job market before making the final call about my professional outlook. While researching careers, the IMO STCW qualification through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at FNU/FMA caught my attention.
“Diploma in Nautical Science is from the TVET stream. It presents a perfect example of providing an ideal training platform for employment opportunities as a seafarer and showcases the importance of TVET training and the need for qualified professionals in this field in the Pacific.”
For Pacific Island countries, the maritime industry is an essential part of the transportation sector that connects them not only to their own islands but to the rest of the world as well. Hence, the need for qualified seafarers. The crucial role of seafarers in connecting the communities further boosted Kamekaso’s interest in this field.
“Maritime is one of the indispensable industries that has kept the world connected and has served as the main pillar for trade between nations. Even looking at the instance of my country the Solomon Islands, it is mostly dependent on sea transportation. Most of the commodities for export are produced in rural areas then shipped to Honiara for export. This also made me realise that I could serve my country with a career in this field.”
Kamekaso is content with his decision to study at FNU as he was able to get exposure to industry expectations before he finished the programme.
“The aspect that I liked the most about this programme is the sea phase, where it is compulsory to undertake industrial attachment in between the five stages of study. This is where all the theories that I learnt in class proved useful in my first-time onboard experiences. It also assists in the next stage of the study.”
Kamekaso is currently continuing at FMA enrolled in mandatory short courses required for the Certificate of Competency in Class 3 Watchkeeper.
“I am looking forward to completing these short courses, successfully and going back to the Solomon Islands to begin my career in the maritime industry,” he added.
Enrolment for Semester 2, 2021 is currently underway. Interested students can visit the FNU website on www.fnu.ac.fj to learn more.
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.