By SHEIK DEAN
Proud graduates with National Training and Productivity Centre director Kamlesh Prakash and invited guests at FNU Namaka campus in Nadi on Friday night. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA
The Fiji National University’s National Training and Productivity Centre plans to extend training opportunities in its beauty and skin care programme to the greater part of the Western Division.
This is to cater for the demand of the business in the tourism sector.
Last Friday 63 students graduated at the FNU Namaka Campus in Nadi.
The programme is being offered in partnership with Pivot Point International, an academy which provides one of the best hair and beauty education in the United States.
Centre director Kamlesh Prakash said: “Through this partnership, we intend to extend training opportunities to other parts of the country like Sigatoka, Rakiraki and Labasa,” Cur rent centres are located in Lautoka and Suva.
“Incidentally, only some years ago, the beauty and spa industry faced great difficulties in providing the needed numbers of trained therapists,” he said.
Spa venture
Mr Prakash says the industry has seen a number of spa businesses venturing into the tourism sector providing more employment and investment opportunities.
“The tourism industry is the largest foreign exchange earner and earnings have surpassed the $1 billion mark,” he said.
“Since the fashion and beauty industry is emerging in Fiji, there is a great need for quality education and training.”
Stakeholders
He says it was also time for stakeholders to take stock of this industry, and consider organising this industry to much higher levels.
“It is evident that there is no industry body, nor accredited standard to comply within Fiji.
“FNU is proud to be associated in this partnership to help raise standards and quality assurance working with bodies like the Fiji Higher Education Commission and the Fiji Hotel Association.”