The University of the South Pacific will be extending its Pacific Technical and Further Education (TAFE) programmes to other regional campuses next year.

This was confirmed by USP director Pacific TAFE and the Pacific Centre for Flexible and Open Learning for Development (PACFOLD) Hasmukh Lal during an information session.

The session was held at Takia Hotel conference room foyer in Labasa on Friday. Mr Lal said Pacific TAFE was a strategically transformed department of USP which provides skills-based qualifications leading to decent employment opportunities and pathways for higher studies at USP. “We are a new department so what we have done is rolled out our programmes in Suva and now we’re gradually moving to the region,” he said.

“We are moving to Lautoka, Labasa, Tonga and Solomon Islands campuses next year and for the following year we will take another four campuses from four different member countries.”

The Pacific TAFE programme has been very successful so far having 3000 enrolments in Semester One this year regionally out which 200 students are from Labasa.

Mr Lal said fees could be paid by students through TELS scholarships, FNPF education assistance or sponsorship.

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