Employees of the Suva City Council (SCC) who work in skilled roles will now have the opportunity to enhance their qualifications through a new partnership with Pacific Polytech (PP). The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to enable staff to obtain skilled-based certificates.
Tevita Boseiwaqa, the acting chief executive officer of SCC, stated that this agreement will primarily benefit over 200 employees engaged in skill-based work. He emphasized that the initiative is designed to cover a significant portion of the workforce, highlighting its multi-level and multi-skills approach.
Boseiwaqa explained that SCC will carry out a training needs analysis to pinpoint specific areas where staff can benefit from the MoU, allowing them to identify skill gaps and opportunities for further training. He noted that by fostering a multi-skilled workforce, employees will be better positioned for career advancement compared to those who specialize in a single area.
Peni Taoi, the founding director of PP, expressed enthusiasm for the new agreement, which expands on existing partnerships with Labasa and Nasinu Town Councils that offer similar training benefits. He remarked that Pacific Polytech focuses on technical areas and emphasizes the importance of upskilling to leverage emerging opportunities.