For the first time the Fiji National University (FNU) Labasa campus formed a stakeholder advisory group yesterday and elected the Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere as its chairperson.

During the meeting at the Commissioner Northern’s office in Macuata House, Labasa, FNU’s pro vice-chan­cellor for learning and teaching and senior manager for Labasa and Ba campus, Eci Nabalarua said the group would oversee and support the operation of the campus.

“It is a requirement under the FNU operation that a campus must have an advisory group and have a meeting not more than three times in a year,” Ms Nabalarua said.

“Their job is basically to provide support to the opera­tion of the campus in terms of feedback on the relevance of the programme.

“Any aspect on learning and teaching which they see in the community might have an impact on the quality delivery of our programmes and strengthen stakeholder network for the Labasa campus for which the campus and the university can utilise when they are trying to get some feedback from the community.

“This also involves looking at the new campus in La­basa.

“The stakeholders are drawn from different Govern­ment sectors, industries, traditional leaders, business leaders, women’s reps, reps from college that are teach­ing in Labasa, disability reps, youth reps, the Commis­sioner Northern and Tui Macuata,” she said.

“Ratu Wiliame has been elected by the members to be the chairperson of this advisory group and the Labasa College principal Kamlesh Prasad, who is also the FNU council member was elected as the deputy chairperson.

“The advisory group will need to endorse the budget for Labasa campus and also do marketing, outreach, initia­tives for student success and so on.

“As of February, 2018 the Labasa campus has 764 stu­dents and 15 lecturers.”

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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