The Fiji International volunteer forces are set to receive a boost in 2016 with the Fiji National University (FNU) Business of Hospitality and Tourism faculty students signing up to assist at the major sporting event. The new found relationship between FNU and the country’s largest international sporting event will see 60 students from the FNU’s Namaka Campus volunteer at the Fiji International from 6-9 October.
A huge prospect for the FNU students, they will have the opportunity to be involved in a globally recognised golf tournament, working alongside industry leaders to gain experience in their areas of study.
“We are very excited to partner with the Fiji International in this exciting volunteer program. We have pre-selected 60 students to participate and earn work experience in this world class international professional sporting event,” said Eric Jiojie, Head of Department, Food and Beverage, Fiji National University.
“We have selected the students from our Bachelor of Hospitality and Hotel Management (Levels 2-4) and our Trade Diploma in Hospitality and Hotel Management (Levels 3 and 4) areas. The criteria for them to be selected was based on their punctuality, oral and written skills, customer service skills, product knowledge, ability to apply academic knowledge to pratical situations, team player skills, health and safety knowledge, attention to details and computer skills.” added Mr. Jiojie.
“The Fiji International is one of the nation’s biggest events and is now part of the European Tour which offers a unique experience for our students to be a part of.”
The sixty university students will be a part of the Fiji International crew which will take them both inside the ropes and behind the scenes of the tournament.
They will gain wide and varied experience from roles such as caddy bib and TV wardrobe registration, carry board marshals, drink delivery marshals, hole marshals, leaderboard marshals, mobile marshals, registration marshals, scoring centre attendants and walker scorers.
“Being a volunteer at a world class professional golf tournament like the Fiji International is a great experience but will prove even more valuable to the development of practical work skills for the Tourism and Hospitality students at FNU,” said Harmony Thomas, Event Manager of the Fiji International.
“It will provide them the opportunity to work alongside industry experts from Australia and Europe providing them an inside look at a major sporting event.”
All FNU students who volunteer their time to assist in the successful staging of the Fiji International will be rewarded with a completion of work certificate from the PGA of Australia, the tournament organiser, which will be valuable in their CV of achievements when they are applying for their first roles out of University.
“The Fiji International will provide the FNU volunteers with an incredible opportunity to learn on the job. We believe they will gain some great knowledge and practical skills on how major events operate. This type of experience becomes invaluable when students first launch their careers,” added Thomas.
While the students will gain a huge benefit from volunteering so too will the Fiji International.
“A world class tournament the size of the Fiji International requires in excess of 200 volunteers and 100 paid industry experts to deliver the event each year,” continued Thomas.
“With the students building their skills whilst at University by volunteering at the Fiji International, we hope to contribute to a talented pool of Fijian tourism experts who one day might work year round on the delivery of the tournament.”
Each student will receive training ahead of the 2016 Fiji International to ensure they understand the roles they have been assigned to.
About the Fiji National University:
The Fiji National University comprises five Colleges spread throughout the country. The University has 15 libraries around Fiji.
The College of Business, Hospitality & Tourism Studies has business degree programmes which are nationally accredited. The College’s programmes are all vetted by the relevant Industry Advisory Committees before being approved by the University’s Senate. Accreditation for some programmes such as Accounting is also provided by the professional body, the Fiji Institute of Accountants. Currently FNU has programmes in two streams, the Technical & Vocational Education Training Stream and the Higher Education Stream. With the aim to take education closer to the community, FNU programmes particularly in Accounting, Economics, Computing Science and others, are all offered via five campuses around Fiji including Nadi, Lautoka, Ba and Labasa. FNU is currently rolling out postgraduate programmes on a number of commerce subjects.
About the Fiji International:
The Fiji International became even more global in 2016, thanks to a new co-sanctioning agreement between the PGA Tour of Australasia and The European Tour. The European Tour is one of the strongest Professional golf tours in the world and 2016 will see their global presence boosted with their first visit to Fiji.
This new co-sanctioning relationship is set to attract a stronger field, with more nationalities represented than ever before when the tournament is played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from October 6–9.
One of the key drawcards of the Fiji International is in fact Fiji as a destination. Players are able to bring their families to enjoy a holiday, whilst they compete in a world-class tournament.
The tournament also boasts some of the most unique hospitality options in world golf with the par-3 fourth hole providing the perfect vantage point to watch the golf, whilst socialising on the beach.
More than just a golf tournament, the Fiji International aims to leave a lasting legacy for golf in the Pacific region, with the PGA of Australia supporting initiatives to grow the game of golf in Fiji.