Students from FNU’s College of Engineering, Science and Technology (CEST)

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provides graduates with an opportunity to acquire employable and lifelong skill sets that also strengthens the financial and social well-being in society.

Fiji National University’s (FNU), College of Vocational Education and Training (CVET), Project Director Salabogi Mavoa said one of University’s key role is to support the economic and social development of Fiji through the provision of relevant, high-quality education and training that maximises graduate employability.

According to the senior academic, institutions must formulate young people’s capabilities with both academic and vocational learning.

“This involves recognising the capacity of both content-based and vocational-technical skills to equip young people with specialised and academic knowledge and the necessary skills, experience and characteristics needed to enter the workforce,” said Mavoa.

FNU prides itself as one of the leading technical and vocational education training institute in the Pacific.

“We ensure that students not only focus on academic learning but value vocational and technical learning as well. TVET provides our students with an opportunity to acquire employable and lifelong skill sets,” commented Mavoa.

“One needs to prioritise TVET training. Technical and vocational education training assists in national capital and infrastructure development therefore we can confidently say that TVET training drives the economy of a nation. “Get a Skill and Get a Job” is the message that we need to share with our people. There will always be a demand for skilled workers in the country in construction, manufacturing and agriculture and service industries.”

Mavoa elaborated that more than 80 per cent of the jobs in Fiji are TVET related, a trend similar to anywhere in the world.

“Our TVET graduates are in demand outside Fiji. We often get requests directly from overseas companies looking for TVET graduates – mechanics, plumbers electricians etc. We must maintain that standard in the quality of our training,” he highlighted.

FNU is a dual-sector university offering a growing range of qualifications from certificate to doctorate levels to allow graduates from one discipline to develop new expertise and competencies in another.

“We allow young people to identify their strengths and interests and equip them to more suitably match their strengths with study and employment opportunities. More than 50 per cent of our courses at FNU are TVET-related,” mentioned the FNU’s CVET Project Director.

He also stated that shifting people’s perception on TVET studies can be challenging at times.

“For many people, there’s a tendency to view technical and vocational education training as less significant for a valuable career pathway. By demoting vocational and technical learning, we are deterring our young people in pursuing a pathway that may suit their interests and learning needs better,” mentioned Mavoa.

“I would also like to encourage females to enter into technical and vocational education training. We have some very successful female TVET specialists I would like to see more take up the opportunities and excel as TVET champions.”

An FNU student and teaching staff during a practical class.