The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Pacific Technical and Further Education (Pacific TAFE) successfully launched the Certificate 4 in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) programme in partnership with The Pacific Community (SPC) virtually earlier this month.
Head of College for College of Continuing Vocational Education and Training (CVET) at Pacific TAFE, Nilesh Kumar thanked the SPC Team, Programme Manager for Pacific Resilience Programme, George Beck; Curriculum and DRM specialist, Joy Pederson; and DRM trainer USP Anthony Blake for their commitment in providing the qualification for the Pacific people to prepare them to better respond to disasters more effectively in future.
Mr Kumar said USP is proud to empower the Pacific people through these qualifications and make a difference in their lives. He congratulated the 31 participants registered for the DRM Programme, adding that it was encouraging to see a majority of women in the cohort.
USP Pacific TAFE is a leading training provider of high-quality skills-based qualifications, foundation and preliminary studies in the Pacific. These include qualifications in Project Management, Fisheries- aquaculture compliance, Fisheries monitoring and enforcement, resilience, cyber security, procurement and supply, among others.
Mr Beck said they had come a long way in developing the course, and it was pleasing to see this course now being delivered by USP.
He added that “in developing the course, we have had to consult widely with representatives from the industry, including other partners working in the emergency management area and other projects developing similar courses in the resilience area. And, of course, the national management offices in the Pacific Island countries”.
Mr Beck explained that because this cohort was the first trial, participant feedback is critical to gradually enhancing the programme. He thanked Mr Kumar and his team for working together to deliver this course.
“We are indeed grateful that USP has agreed to accredit and provide the course. We look forward to working with USP to extend the course to other Pacific Island Countries in the first Semester 2022 through the World Bank Funded Pacific Resilience Project,” Mr Beck said.
