On Friday, 27 November 2015, the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) and the European Union Sugar Project celebrated the success of its students at a graduation ceremony held at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka, Fiji. 

APTC Chief Executive Officer Denise O’Brien hosted over 200 invited guests at the graduation, including representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), European Union Coordination Unit, and APTC staff, graduates’ families, employers and industry representatives. 

 In his opening address Programme Management Advisor and Team Leader of the European Union Coordination Unit, Michael Parker said, “I am delighted to have an opportunity to participate in today’s graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievement of our Frontline Management Graduates.” He recognised that, “building the knowledge and skills of home-grown managers, certified to international standards and providing the ideas and ability to move the industry into new markets, new products and revenue streams is essential.” 

The 85 graduates successfully completed their studies with APTC in the Certificate IV in Frontline Management. These are the first group of students to graduate from the European Union (EU) Funded Sugar Support to the Sugar Industry Programme AMSP 13.

The majority of the graduates are employed in various leadership, supervisory and management roles throughout the four FSC Sugar Mills across the sugar belt regions of Western Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Among the graduates are also six students from Sugar Research Institute of Fiji and one student from Sugar Cane Growers Council. 

This four-year project 2014-2017 is being implemented on the basis of delegated cooperation agreement between the European Union and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with a monetary value of 4 million euros. APTC has been engaged by DFAT as the delivery contractor for this project.

APTC is a development initiative funded by the Australian Government to deliver training and to increase the supply of skilled workers in targeted sectors in the Pacific region.

In his keynote address, the Acting Permanent Secretary for the Sugar Industry, Mr Viliame Gucake challenged the graduates to apply the knowledge, skills and new ways of doing things they have learnt from the training in their various workstations or places. “Learning must translate into something visible, tangible and measurable,” he said. 

He further commented that “the Fiji Sugar Cane Industry looks forward to innovative and progressive young leaders who show potential and have the courage to think outside the box and be prepared to take the industry to new heights. You are in a perfect position to make that happen. So go for it. The industry and its future are in your hands.”