A historic MOU has been signed between Levuka Town Council and the University of Fiji to assist with drafting the Council’s 5-year Strategic Plan in areas of common interest.
The MOU sets out several key initiatives for collaboration, including capacity building, administration support, heritage protection and promotion, and social-economic development strategic planning.
While speaking during the MOU signing at Queen Victoria Memorial Town Hall in Levuka, Uni Fiji Vice Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem says the ideal opportunity for the University is to work with the Council to support formal and informal education, advocacy for the public good, the arts and leadership training.
Professor Shameem says strategic planning will help the Council to deliver services more efficiently and innovatively.
These courses will be offered in hybrid modes to facilitate easy access to programmes without students having to travel to the mainland to attend classes.
She says they did not hesitate to accept the Council's invitation assist it with realizing its vision, mission and goals.
She says the common interests include the advancement of the town in revenue and sustainable economy, culture, heritage, education, environmental protection, holistic social, capital, and human development, and viable investments.
The Vice Chancellor says they want to develop and offer short and full courses for the Council personnel, residents of Levuka, including young people to assist them with capacity building and upskilling for the employment market.
She says they want to assist the Council with producing reports requested from LTC by Local and Central Government to progress the Town Council’s reporting requirements and place the Council on a solid footing with their stakeholder.
Professor Shameem says they will work with the Council and its personnel to improve infrastructural capacity, including of heritage sites; and to design and deliver a People and Place Regenerative Futures Collective Focus with sustainability and social and environmental balance as the goal for future development of the town.
The Vice Chancellor says the university had opened an office in Levuka as the MOU focal point and would move to Nasova to the residence of Fiji’s first Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon.
She further says many parents were concerned about the dangers facing their children once they left home, therefore the university is providing an alternative for them to study towards their preferred programmes in Levuka itself.
Meanwhile, Levuka Town Council Board Chairperson, Ben Naidu says this MOU signing will allow students to study in Levuka and not leave their hometown.
Naidu says after students graduate they leave for greener pastures but they need youths so that they can contribute to the economy’s growth.
He further says that this educational delivery could ultimately be more effective for the good of the nation as a whole.
