Fiji National University (FNU) has been tasked with a huge role in national  development, the National Trainers Conference heard yesterday.

This was highlighted by FNU chancellor Ikbal Jannif when the two-day National Training Conference  began at Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.

It is organised by the university’s National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC).

“We have stimulated our academics/trainers to undertake research that would influence policies and provide positive outcomes for the greater good of the society,” Mr Jannif said.

More than 120 stakeholders, who are designated chief executives, general managers, human resource managers and training instructors from at least 76 organisations are attending the conference with an opportunity to engage in presentations, panel discussions, networking and sharing best practices.

Mr Jannif said people needed to get engaged and involved if they were to enhance the productivity at the workforce sectors.

“If people want specialised training for their organisation, then employers can get in touch with NTPC and we will be able to provide that training. It can be tailor made for institutions,” Mr Jannif said.

He said the conference was a training for trainers themselves and it was very important for the trainers to take the message back and relate that to the own organisations and use whatever they learnt within their own training programmes.

“The evolving demand on the quality of workforce has pushed practices in human resources and management, particularly training to take on strategic role in modern and dynamic organisations,” Mr Jannif said.

Investing on leadership and training

Guest speaker, associate professor at Louisiana State University in the United States of America, Priscilla Allen, talked about the return on investment and leadership training.

She reiterated the importance of maximising human capital and relationships in the workplace to get better results.

“Primarily the people here train and supervise so it’s about identifying strengths in their teams and gaps to make them stronger.

“I hope that people see how training and influencing and advancing skills is better for the organisation, so that Fiji can be better than it already is,” Ms Allen said.

The conference, which is the second of its kind to be organised and hosted by the NTPC for the industry stakeholders, will end today.

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