At the commencement of Semester 2 this year, the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) Vanuatu Campus welcomed 85 students from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Nick Crosling, the new APTC Country Manager, Vanuatu Campus, warmly welcomed new students during an orientation workshop on Monday 13 July.
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. APTC has campuses in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Mr Crosling acknowledged the great relationship between the governments of the Pacific Island Forum countries, especially host country Vanuatu, and the Australian Government for providing opportunities, to enable Pacific Islanders to enhance their work skills and obtain an Australian qualification.
“International and local students not only represent APTC but have a responsibility in representing their home country. I encourage you to make good use of your five months of study and stay at APTC”, Mr Crosling said to the new APTC students.
This semester will also highlight the success of APTC’s Nationalisation Strategy across its Vanuatu campus, with all of the current trainers being ni-Vanuatu.
The Australian High Commission was also present to welcome the students. Alison George, First Secretary (Development Cooperation), echoed Mr Crosling’s message. “I encourage you all to learn as much as possible from the trainers and to maximise opportunities with APTC Vanuatu”, she said.
The two day orientation program is comprised of various activities, where students are introduced to APTC, their rights and responsibilities as students, competency based teaching and learning at APTC, how to access student learning support services available at APTC, their health, safety and hygiene and other activities introducing them to studying as adult learners.