FNU launches a new initiative to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training

The Fiji National University (FNU) is providing a developmental opportunity for both experienced technicians and tradespeople as well as new engineering graduates to begin an enriching career as a professional TVET instructors.

FNU Vice Chancellor Professor Nigel Healey said the University is committed to strengthening the quality of TVET teaching in Fiji and addressing the growing shortage of qualified instructors in the country.

“The University has a strong team of experienced and dedicated TVET instructors,” he noted, “but many of our instructors are coming up to retirement age and we need to start investing in a new generation of teaching staff.”

“Our minimum essential requirements for a TVET instructor are a postgraduate diploma (level 8) and significant on-the-job work experience.  Unfortunately, in many cases applicants either have appropriate academic qualifications but no meaningful practical experience or have excellent work experience but no formal qualifications above Level IV,” VC Healey added.

Professor Healey said as a “dual sector” university with an extensive range of TVET awards, one of FNU’s key roles is to support the economic and social development of Fiji through the provision of relevant, high-quality education and training that maximises graduate employability.

“To promote TVET and ensure that we are investing in the next generation of qualified, experienced TVET instructors, FNU is launching a “New Talent” TVET Teacher (Development Route) at the rank of Assistant Instructor,” said VC Healey.

There are two Development Routes through which interested instructors can join the University and begin a career as a TVET instructor.

• Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree (level 7 qualification) would be supervised to undertake “hands on” training for the first six months, after which they will be required to take and pass an appropriate practical test.
• Applicants with trade qualification and relevant work experience would be required to enrol in the Higher Education Certificate Teaching in Technical and Vocational Education Training (HECT-TVET).

“The New Talent TVET teachers will have a 12-month probation period.  Passing the probation period for either of the two development routes would be depend on passing the trade test or making satisfactory progress towards achieving the TVET teaching certificate,” added Professor Healey.

“Thereafter, the University will support these new staff members to continue to upgrade their skills and qualifications and steadily progress their careers to Instructor, Senior Instructors and Principal Instructors.”

Applicants for New Talent TVET Teachers must be under the age of 40 years.

The University particularly welcomes applications from women, as women are currently underrepresented in the TVET teaching profession.

The target areas for the New Talent TVET Teachers are: