In Fiji:

September 30, 2022, 8:07 am
Business, Fiji News

FNU commended for producing competent graduates

Fiji TV Team
| etoga@fijitv.com.fj
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The Fiji National University was commended for producing competent graduates to meet labour market demands.

This was the sentiment by Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), Chief Executive Officer Kameli Batiweti who was the Chief Guest at FNU’s first of three graduation ceremonies at the Vodafone Arena in Suva this morning.

Razia Rukshana Ali

“We commend the efforts of FNU in scaling up the supply of qualified, skilled graduates back into the workforce. Whilst we are happy for our Fijians finding work opportunities overseas, and their relatives in Fiji receiving remittances, the fact is that we need to replace the lost work experience and qualifications,” Batiweti said.“

FNU must continually capitalise on the TVET programmes it offers – some of which offered by the Colleges graduating here today includes the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, agroforestry, wood processing, aquaculture, commercial agriculture, and horticulture,  business start-ups, e-commerce & digital marketing, sustainable tourism, hospitality, plumbing, tile laying, brick laying and plastering basics – as it opens up a graduates career pathway and opportunities here in the trade sector in Fiji, as well as the regional and global market.“

The College of Business, Hospitality, and Tourism Studies has the highest number of graduates in this session.

There are 396 graduands, of which 140 are males and 256 are females. Again, very excited with the number of females graduating in this field.

”FNU Chancellor, Ms Tessa Price congratulated the 559 students who graduated from the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF), College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies (CBHTS) and the National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC). “

As a dynamic, modern university, looking to the future, FNU is determined to seize the opportunities for innovation and fresh thinking; and, in turn, to create opportunities for our students, communities, nation, and region,” Ms Price said.

FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lyn Karstadt, said that all Fijians will be empowered with education, and skill sets so that they may be easily absorbed into the workforce.“A key focus will be on skills development and turning job seekers into job creators,” Prof Karstadt said.

“As an FNU graduate, you will have all developed the ability to think imaginatively, independently, and critically, and to uphold our university values of care, honesty, accountability, service, and excellence. These are great lessons to take with you into the future.”CBHTS graduate and recipient of the Pherrus Pty (Fiji) Ltd Prize for Best Student, Razia Rukshana Ali said her hard work and commitment enabled her to achieve success. 

“This is a proud moment for me and my family as I graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Management),” she said. 

“However, it was not an easy journey for me as I had to make sacrifices in life to graduate. FNU has helped me develop my career, and it is a privilege for me to study at FNU. I am looking forward to upskilling my qualifications with FNU in the near future. “