Suva, Fiji Islands. Today marks another important milestone for the Fiji National University following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Tonga.
The historic signing was done by the Fiji National University’s Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Rouse and Tonga’s Minister for Infrastructure, Honourable ‘Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu at FNU’s main boardroom on Nasinu Campus.
“This is certainly a significant partnership between the Fiji National University and the People of Tonga. Our friendship between island countries in the Pacific has existed for many years and this MoU signing today reaffirms this special bond,” said Professor Rouse.
The MoU will establish a cooperative partnership, based on friendship and cooperation, for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding, leading to the strengthening of both parties through identified development activities.
It recognises the intention of FNU, as a leading tertiary education provider in the Pacific and Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure, to cooperate in a broad range of areas and to work together for their mutual benefit.
Specific areas of interest shared by the two Heads include the sharing of knowledge, expertise and technical information and the building of critical pathways to quality and advanced learning.
“This sort of arrangement is important for us, it provides an opportunity for us to extend our learning and training programmes beyond our traditional boundaries,” said Professor Rouse.
FNU signed a similar MoU with Kiribati Government through its Institute of Technology. “We have already started the development work on this.
Long term, we are committed to a regional service delivery by working closely with individual national educational services providers of island countries in the provision of accredited trade certificates and short terms skills upgrade programmes,” commented Professor Rouse.
The Parties agree to encourage and promote the following activities:
Training programs;
Exchange of ideas, expertise and knowledge in the areas mutually agreed; Exchange of publications, relevant technical information and academic materials between the respective organisations;
Joint research, lectures, symposia;
Other activities as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties.
For more information, please contact Communications Office on 3393110.
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