The 2nd of February, 2018 marked a milestone for Labasa Campus as it witnessed the launching of the Pacific TAFE Labasa Centre to cater for the ever increasing popularity of Pacific TAFE courses here in the Northern division.
Pacific TAFE enrolment contributes nearly one-third of USP’s total enrolment. Programmes at Pacific TAFE are tailor made to prepare students for the demanding labour force and also provide pathways to attaining internationally recognised qualifications which will equip students as they enter the job market.
USP Senior Management Team included, the Vice Chancellor and President of The South Pacific, Professor Rajesh Chandra, Pro Chancellor and Chair of Council Mr. Winston Thompson, Deputy Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching Professor Richard Coll, Vice President Regional Campuses, Estates and Infrastructure Dr. Giulio Paunga and Pacific TAFE Executive Director Mr. Hasmukh Lal, and Pacific TAFE Laucala campus staff all present in Labasa for the anticipated event.
The Chief Guest, Vice Chancellor and President of USP Professor Rajesh Chandra in his opening remarks exclaimed how the launching of Pacific TAFE Labasa center was a milestone for the Northern Division and Labasa Campus as a whole because seventeen years ago Labasa Campus began on humble beginnings to cater for the growing demand for higher educational needs of the people of Vanua Levu.
He described how Pacific TAFE is one the largest learning entity and had transformed under the current university’s strategic plan to create more pathways for high education, build skills pathway for students, create opportunities to study internationally recognised programmes and in this Pacific TAFE had met the requirements of 16 accredited courses, so that employability rate will increase.
Stated by Professor Rajesh Chandra the opening of the new facility will be beneficial to the students, and in a way meet the increasing number of intake of students at Labasa Centre. He also acknowledged the support of the government, private sector and community in being friends of the university and its committed partner. Stakeholders were also urged to continue to collaborate with USP in addressing human resource need and supporting vision of development in the Northern Division.
To top the evening of the launching of Pacific TAFE, business man Charan Jeeth Singh and his family donated a $10,000.00 scholarship to Pacific TAFE for students who are of a poor background and will sincerely need financial assistance. In his remarks Mr. Singh stated that the scholarship was on behalf of his late dad, and that his family was committed to assisting needy students.
