Vanuatu High Commission’s Education Attache, Thomas Butu (second from left) and the Vanuatu delegation with FNU’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dean, Prof Paul Iji (front, fourth from left).

Education pathways and opportunities for regional students were recently discussed during a meeting between the Fiji National University (FNU) and officials from the Vanuatu High Commission.

The six-member team from the High Commission recently visited the University’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF) Dean, Professor Paul Iji.

Prof Iji said the team, which was led by the Vanuatu High Commission’s Education Attache, Thomas Butu, was on campus to assist new and continuing students enrol for Semester 1 studies at FNU.

“The College was pleased to welcome the Vanuatu delegation to our campus, as we already have several students from Vanuatu enrolled in various CAFF and other FNU programmes,” the Dean said.

“We shared with the team information of the CAFF programmes offered from Certificate Level 3 in Agriculture to Doctorate levels of qualification.”

“FNU’s development of our online delivery of learning and teaching to students from across the region was also emphasised as this makes our programmes accessible and with minimal face-to-face contact required.”

Prof Iji said the delegation shared their observations on the quality of the training delivered for CAFF programmes such as the Bachelor of Science in Animal Science programme.

“This meeting was the first of what we hope will be many more discussions and collaborations,” he said.

“The team had also enquired on the ways in which countries with minimal forestry resources could develop the sector. I indicated that agroforestry was an option that may not be limited to timber production, as it could develop fruit and nut production, as well as medicinal species like Moringa.”