Plans to Introduce New Honours Degree in Fisheries
Plans are underway to introduce an honours component to the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries programme offered at Fiji National University (FNU).
This is part of the Department of Fisheries efforts to strengthen its collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries to share research facilities.
Fisheries proggrammes
Head of Department of Fisheries Ravinesh Ram said at the moment, FNU offers a Trade Diploma in Applied Fisheries, Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Master of Fishery.
“This will enable the students to voluntarily take three additional higher-level courses in Year four which is also technically equivalent to a Postgraduate diploma. We also plan to strengthen our Master of Science in Fisheries and Doctor of Science (in Aquaculture, Aquaponics, integrated fish systems, post-harvest fisheries, fish nutrition),” said Mr Ram.
Demand
Mr Ram adds to meet the huge demand for graduates in fisheries in different operations; the school explores the labour market through road shows for recruiting students into fisheries.
He said there are several jobs in the field such as aquaculture technicians, fisheries officers, managers, teachers, stock assessors etc.
“Our fisheries programmes have a core course (industrial attachment), where students join the fishery industry for three months. These attachments help the graduates in acquiring the necessary skills to function properly in any fishery jobs.
“Our programmes and courses are designed within the scope of the University and College Strategic Plans, which align with the National Development Plan.
“These programmes are designed in conjunction with stakeholders who constitute an industry advisory committee.
“Upon completion, the graduates obtain theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and experiences through the industrial attachment to start a job in fisheries,” said Mr Ram.
He said the fisheries trimester mode has been phased out and shifted to a 14-week semester (Semester 1 and 2).
This would allow students to do summer industrial attachment in time. Bachelor of Fisheries takes three years to complete while the Trade Diploma in Fisheries programme has a two-year duration.
Entry
Applicant must have passed Fiji Year 13 Certificate Examination or equivalent with a minimum of 200 marks and pass (50 percent ) in English, and three other subjects from Maths Biology/Agriculture/ Chemistry and anyone from the following subjects such as Biology/Agriculture/ Chemistry/ Geography/Food & Nutrition, Technology/Physics/Computer Science/Economics/Introduction to Technology/Technical Drawing/Accounting.
The classes are held on campus at Koronivia via face-to-face/blended and through online modes.