About Us || Alafua LAN || CCNA || Staff || Helpdesk || Computer Lab – Opening hours

ABOUT US

ITS at Alafua Campus is an arm of its main headquarter in Laucala, Suva. ITS provides a range of services required for the establishment, maintenance and support of the computer facilities required by the campus. These services include maintenance of agreed standards, installation of all computer equipment, software and networks and advise training for students and staff on the use of computer equipment and software.

ALAFUA LAN

The USP - Alafua Campus has a Local Area Network (LAN) with an optical fibre backbone. There are more than 100 PCs connected to several virtual servers with Windows 2008 and Linux as operating systems platform. All PC clients run on either Windows 7 or Windows XP Professional platform.

The Alafua Campus has four computer Labs . The main students computer lab near the library contains 20 PCs with flat screens (LCD). The second computer lab contains 16 PCs and use exclusively by the MBA students. The third students computer lab (C7 - next to MBA lab) contains 20 PCs with LCD screens. The fourth new computer lab belongs to the postgraduate students. It has ten PCs and with the arrival of NComputing, six more nodes (clients) will be installed soon. In addition to PC client/server and Network maintenance, other services offered by the IT section include Internet access, e-mail services and USPNet services via satellite communications.

CCNA

• Enrolment Form

• Click here for more information on CISCO Professional Training

The Cisco CCNA Exploration curriculum provides a comprehensive overview of networking; from fundamentals to advanced applications and services. It is based on a top-down approach to networking that is popular in many colleges and universities. This course emphasizes theoretical concepts and practical application, while providing opportunities for students to gain the skills and hands-on experience needed to design, install, operate, and maintain networks in small-to-medium businesses, as well as enterprise and service provider environments.

CCNA Exploration offers in-depth theory, challenging labs, and a detailed overview of protocol operations. It is designed for students with advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, such as degree candidates in engineering, math, or science, or for working professionals who would like to advance their careers or gain certification. CCNA Exploration was designed to be integrated into technology curricula or continuing education programs at post-secondary institutions such as technical schools, colleges, and universities.

STAFF

There are three members of the IT team:

HELPDESK

The helpdesk is also manned by the USPNet Operator (phone extension 348). Both students and staff members can call the helpdesk regarding any IT-related problem such as faulty PCs, network and software problems. Users can also call the computer technician (Ext. 350) or the IT Manager (Ext. 347) if the USPNet Operator is not available. Users are also encouraged to use our helpdesk email (helpdesk(at)samoa.usp.ac.fj ) for a quicker response as all three IT staff will receive any message to the above account.

We also hire students as computer lab assistants to supervise the computer labs after hours. The computer lab assistants make sure that the students do not abuse the machines as well as enforcing lab rules such as no food, smoking, computer games as well as keeping the noise to a minimum level at all times.

COMPUTER LAB OPENING HOURS

• Monday to Friday: 8.00 am – 10pm
• Week-ends 12noon – 6pm
• Public Holidays 12noon - 6pm

Note: Opening hours are normally extend to mid-night during peak-periods such as few weeks before end of semesters

Note - More information on the Information Technology Services Department regarding its mission, role, services etc. can be found on the USP website @ www.usp.ac.fj/its

Continuing and Community Education at USP

In line with the university mission, particularly where it states

“…and the provision of appropriate levels of education and training responsive to the well-being and needs of the communities of the South Pacific” USP Mission Statement, 1998

and the Strategic Plan Teaching Goal 1.5 (2006):

“1.5 Expand the provision of relevant continuing education and community outreach activities” ,

Continuing and Community Education (CCE) in Samoa is diverse, targeting a wide range of people in the effort to reach all levels.

What is Continuing and Community Education?

This is a programme of educational activities that provide or extend educational opportunities beyond the formal credit programmes of the university. That is,

• It is the university outreach – taking the opportunities to the people
• It is adult learning, a second chance – for personal enhancement and or developing new skills
• Activities are mostly short term – from two weeks to 3 semesters
• The activities are delivered through either face-to-Face (FtF) or distance and flexible learning (DFL) or a mixture of the two modes of teaching/learning

What Continuing and Community Education programmes are offered in Samoa?

Adult lifelong learning activities include:

• vocational training and personal enhancement

Programmes range from creative writing and dancing, floral art, tie and dye fabric painting, elei and screen-printing, computer awareness classes, and music classes. Participants in these short-term workshop sessions are able to add to their personal knowledge and repertoire, and have also made use of the skills learned, for income-generating activities. Women are the main participants and a large number have gained skills whaich have improved their quality of life, provided them with more choices such as income generating activities. This has contributed to the improvement of the socioeconomic situation of many families.

Click here to download Continuing and Community Education Brochure

Here are two examples:

Expressive arts

The creative writing group that was active during the 80s and early 90s included well known Samoan writers Sano Malifa, Ruperake Petaia, Noumea Simi, and Momoe von Reiche. The activities of this group led to publications that have provided the local writers with outlets of their work. Similarly, creative dancing and music are other areas somewhat untapped and offer potential for further development. The first USP BA in Expressive Arts, Alan Alo, commenced his degree while he was a staff member at the USP Samoa Centre. During Alan’s time at the Centre, he was instrumental in staging a number of drama and music productions.

• professional upgrading : CCE programmes that offer professional upgrading include

Introductory Paravet course: 1 semester (16 weeks); ftf and dfl mixed mode

paravet training of those working with livestock - included government workers in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

Introductory course providing basic theory and practices on Pacific livestock (cattle, pigs, goats, horses, chicken). Practical hands-on exercises and assignments, practical and theory exams.

A local tutor assists in conducting the compulsory practical work.

Nutrition and Physical Activity for Healthy Living program: 3 semesters, mainly ftf but some dfl

Targets health workers, community workers, teachers, sports workers.

3 courses providing basic theory and practices about healthy living through good nutrition practices and appropriate physical activity. Practical hands-on exercises and assignments and an end-of-course exam. Local tutor supported by CDs of physical activity

Schools Library Assistant course: 1 semester. ftf mode.

Similar to the paravet course but this one has 4 weeks of field work attached to schools for hands-on practical applications and uses competencies assessment throughout. Also has an end-of-course exam.

IT training of Health workers

Short term training on basic Information Technology literacy and application specifically for health workers.

Health personnel trained on Microsoft Office programmes of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. As well, trainees learnt how to use the Internet especially for email and research for further information.

Preschool teachers certificate: 3 semesters, mainly dfl supported by local and satellite tutorials.

Targets workers in preschools.

3 courses providing basic theory and practices about early childhood education. Practical hands-on exercises that help students create resources for their classes. Assessment is by assignments and an end-of-course exam.

Disability studies: 3 semesters, mainly dfl supported by local and satellite tutorials.

Targets those working with the special needs individuals whether at home or in institutions.

3 courses providing basic theory and practices about special needs. Practical hands-on exercises that help students cater to their special responsibilities. Assessment is by assignments and an end-of-course exam.

Schools tutorials

A programme involving tutorials after school, at the secondary school level for

• year 12 (Samoa School Certificate) and
• year 13 (Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate)

Nine subject areas are offered: Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, and Physics.

Students in this programme are from secondary schools in the Apia urban area.

To enroll: Pick up the enrolment form from the CCE office.

Alafua campus has commenced its public lecture series for 2007 and in April, Dr Irene Taafaki, Campus Director of Marshall Islands Campus delivered a presentation on Traditional Medicine in Marshall Islands that informed about the research and publication on this topic.

Impact: Continuing and community education offered through public lectures provided an avenue for the community to increase their awareness of global events and trends, bringing an international perspective to local dimensions.

(ii) Research and Publications

In addition to the programmes and activities described above, the Campus is actively involved in consultancies, research and publications which are other ways of community outreach.

Research projects have resulted in Publications which are avenues of disseminating the findings of research work. Examples are:

• Samoa Preschool Standards
• Samoa College Golden Jubilee: 50 years of service to Samoa
• The 2001 Samoa General Elections (March 2006).
• Creating Opportunity, Realising Potential

Future development

Continuing and Community Education in Samoa has great potential and future development will make use of the programmes in place as well as developing new programmes to respond to the needs of the country. Sports, Art and culture are some of those areas. Then again, Alafua campus is ready to develop new programmes cater to new demands.

The Student Learning Support (SLS) was established on Alafua Campus in Semester 2, 2017, and provides on-site academic services/programmess for all Alafua-based students in all modes and levels of study. The SLS services are aimed at equipping students with the right academic skills to enable them to succeed in their studies, enjoy their learning and develop into self-motivating, critical thinking and competent life-long learners.

The following are SLS Services for students:

• ELSA (English Language Skills Assessment): an online diagnostic test for all first year degree students
• EL001 (English Language Skills): an online course for those whose ELSA band score is 4 or below
• Drop-In consultations: daily unscheduled meetings with SLS where students’ problems are solved
• Academic & Study Skills workshops: daily on the 4 modes of English and on (life) study skills
• P.A.S.S (Peer Assisted Study Sessions): 1-hr long sessions held 4 times a week, led by a high achieving senior student (PASS Leader) who aced a course in the past but now working with students struggling with the same course.
• Global Communication: informal 1-hr conversations between native English speaking Alafua-based students from countries beyond the Pacific, and students who are non-native speakers of English. The purpose is for the non-native speakers of English to gain exposure to others ways of speaking English and other worldviews.
• UU1114: The Student Learning Specialist is responsible for teaching UU114 on the campus.
• Online SLS assistance: online assistance for those who cannot be physically present at the SLS hub, through this email: niseta.buatava(at)usp.ac.fj
• Editing: editing assignments for grammatical errors only and not for content.
• Tailored (requested) workshops: workshops tailored to needs of a particular class area of study
• Debate: this boosts students’ communication abilities while arguing local and global issues

Student Resources

These downloadable free resources on the various academic skills are available from the SLS hub.

 Study Skills

• Study Skills
• Weekly Schedule Planner
• Course Work Planner
• Preparing for Exams
• Taking Exams

Writing

• Abstracts
• Academic Style
• Annotated bibliography
• Assignment Writing
• Connectives
• Direction Words
• Essay Writing
• Identifying Main Ideas
• Punctuation
• Reporting Verbs
• Proofreading
• Research Proposal
• Research Report
• Literature Review
• Using References

Reading

• Active Reading
• Critical Reading
• Speed Reading

Speaking

• Seminar Presentations

Listening

• Listening to Lectures & Taking Notes

Alafua SLS SPECIALIST:

Niseta Buatava

Email: niseta.buatava(at)usp.ac.fj

Telephone: (685) 21672 ext: 314