USP supports BSP FHRI Convention

Part of a partnership, says Professor Chandra.

As a human resource development agency, the University of the South Pacific announced its $10,000 sponsorship towards the Fiji Human Resource Institute Annual Convention yesterday.

USP vice chancellor and president Rajesh Chandra said the university’s sponsorship towards the Convention is more of a partnership. “Increasing relationship between universities and workforce sector and professional associations is an imperative to changing landscape of tertiary education globally. The relationship assists both parties in terms of student preparation for the job market,” said Mr Chandra.

The FHRI Awards will be held on May 27th and the Annual Convention in October with Bank South Pacific (BSP) the main sponsor.

USP Pacific Technical and Furhter Education (TAFE) offers pre-degree and skills qualifications through its colleges and short courses through Workforce Development Training Unit while the three faculties offer higher studies programmes.

Mr Chandra said the University intends to establish a Pacific Human Resource Institute affiliated to relevant international associations, in the near future thus making FHRI the foundation towards the proposed initiative.

While reflecting on the numerous human resource development conferences that Mr Chandra had attended, he said the human resource industry in Fiji can be further managed, developed and aligned to explore the country’s full potential.

“These funds that have been sponsored are very meaningful for us. It is a partnership and we value that. We are very appreciative of the fact that the premier university in Fiji has chosen to partner with FHRI in the area of human resource development,” said FHRI president, Kameli Batiweti.

Human resource has been one function that has been neglected in the past and often seen as transactional, according to Mr Batiweti.

In the late 70s, a human resource officer was referred to as “personnel”.

“The transaction from being called personnel to becoming more strategic has happened very slowly and those organisations that still remain in the dark ages of personnel, they pay for that consequence of remaining there. The organisations that have moved on to become more strategic are also reaping the benefits,” he said.

Bank South Pacific is major sponsors of the Annual Convention.

Photo: MONICA AGUILAR Pacific TAFE director Hasmukh Lal, USP deputy vice-chancellor, Learning, Teaching & Student Services professor Richard Coll, USP vice-chancellor professor Rajesh Chandra, FHRI Board member Joana Dawainavesi and FHRI president Kameli Batiweti at the USP...