Key functions of NTPC as mandated through the FNU amended Decree 2010 are as follows:

*Ensure that the in-service training needs of the industries in Fiji are met at all times.

* Manage Apprenticeship System in Fiji.

* Promote Productivity and Business Excellence programmes in industry and act as the National Productivity Organisation for Fiji on behalf of the Government.

* Be responsible for training grants within the budgetary provisions and financial policies of the University.

* Carry out such trade test as are necessary for fulfilling the objective of training for national development.

* Carry out such otherresponsibilities relating to in-dustry training needs as are delegated to the National Centre by the Senate or the Vice Chancellor

National Training & Productivity Centre

Training NewsMonthly Newsletter JANUARY| 2016

Acting Director’s Message

5S – A Powerful Productivity Tool

Trainer Naomi Coalala with Blue Gas staff with their certificates

2016 Better Business Conference Date: 1st April, 2016 Venue: Novotel, Lami Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm

National Convention On Quality Information Seminar Suva: 7th – 8th April, 2016 Nadi: 14th – 15th April, 2016 Labasa: 21st – 22nd April, 2016 Time: 8.30am – 4.30pm

Certificate in Computerized Accounting - MYOB for End Users21st March16 - 07th April16Block A - Derrick Campus, Samabula

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U P C O M I N G E V E N T S / C O U R S E S

NTPC Training Schedule is now ONLINE on our Websitehttp://www.fnu.ac.fj/ntpc/

20 Blue Gas Fiji em-ployees recently at-tended the 5S -The

Practice of Good Housekeep-ing Training. This one-day short course was the first course of 2016 conducted by the Department of Productiv-ity and Quality of the National Training and Productivity Cen-tre (NTPC). The course was conducted at two locations, the Suva branch and Vuda Blue Gas Branch with ten par-ticipants in each centre.

According to the Course

Facilitator, Ms. Naomi Coa-lala, the key topics included in this training were implement-ing 5S activities effectively in the organisation, designing housekeeping audit check-list for proper implementation and standardisation, setting up appropriate reward and recognition system to encour-age and motivate employees to contribute and participate in 5S activities.

The course targeted em-ployees at all levels in the or-ganisation.

“This training has made me realise the importance of an orderly workplace in improving productivity.. The trainees also acknowledged the possibilities to implement 5S and have a better organ-ised, safer and more efficient workplace,” said one of the participants

Blue Gas Fiji commended NTPC for their on-time and practical training. All Partici-pants were presented their certificates at the end of the course.

LTCOL Alipate Vosaicake

LTCOL Alipate Vosaicake

Bula and Greetings from the National Training and Pro-

ductivity Centre! It is my pleasure to present NTPC’s first Newsletter for 2016.

As the National Produc-tivity Organisation (NPO) of Fiji since 1984, we are mandated to provide train-ing to organisations so that they become efficient, pro-ductive and can compete in the domestic, national, regional and global market. Apart from providing in-service trainings, our objective is also to promote apprenticeship training and trade test in the country.

It is our role to promote productivity and business ex-cellence in Fiji on behalf of the Government. NTPC works

closely with all its stakeholders to ensure that the business e x c e l l e n c e framework is adapted to evolve the so-cio-economic realities and to help or-gan isa t ions in both public and private sectors to build resil-

ience and capabilities for sus-tained growth and renewal. Initiatives like the Fiji Business Excellence Awards and Na-tional Convention on Quality are key vehicles that NTPC drives for high productivity and innovation in organisations.

This e-newsletter will keep

readers informed of the per-tinent events and upcoming trainings and short courses of-fered by NTPC. We are hope-ful that many of you will take advantage of these trainings and recognise your potentials and make the best use through these trainings.

Learning and development is central to improving abili-ties and performance and we encourage to sensitise all em-ployers to recognise this and utilise the numerous oppor-tunities that are provided by the FNU and other providers around the country to improve the outcomes for them.

We look forward to hearing from you in any new area(s) of need as well as receiving on-going feedback on our pro-grammes and services.

y

CSR for Technical Training Staffs The staffs of the Division of

Technical Training, National Trade Test Department and

National Apprenticeship conjointly managed to raise $196.00 as part of their social responsibility initiative for a 6 year young boy’s medical treatment abroad.

Despite the fact that the request

for donation was received late, staffs instantly dug into their pockets and contributed charitably towards this unfortunate but noble course. A proverb by Late Mother Teresa fits well with the manner in which staffs reacted quote “It is not about how much we give but how much love we put into giving”.

A number of staffs claimed to be

internally satisfied after this charity, thus we may realise an increase in the Divisions participation in such initiatives in future.

“After all, Corporate Social Responsibility is one of the Corporate Values of the University,” stated the Actg. Deputy Director, Technical Training Mr. Solomone.

Industry Visit A very successful and effective in-

dustry visit was made on the 8th of December 2015 to 5 different or-

ganisations along the coral coast. This visit started off with Warwick Re-

sort when the NTPC team met with the Regional Human Resources, Ms Jayho-tika Ram, and her group of staff from the Warwick and their sister companies, Nav-iti Resort and Tambua Sand. The NTPC team further continued to Hideaway Re-sort, Outrigger on the Lagoon, Tappoos Fiji Limited and Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa.

After the introduction of staffs and presentations of the courses, small syn-dicate groups were formulated where staffs had a one on one interview with the staff members on their queries and ques-tions. All were recorded and considered

as potential industry inputs in as far as the basic ‘training needs’ is concern.

“It was a very interesting visit as we gathered a lot of information from the re-spective companies, about their training needs and what is required.However, there are also some elements that need to be addressed and consid-ered that have always become a hin-drance and obstacles to such initiatives, said NTPC staff, Mr Sitiveni Naciriyawa.

The team also met with the Director Human Resources of the Outrigger on the Lagoon, who highlighted that training is a bit unique and standardized at their property, however NTPC may in future provide trainings for supervisory or man-agement course level with their middle management staff.

“We also had an interview with the

famous Tappoos’ Group of shops Train-ing Manager, Mr. Altab, in his boardroom and who echoed the same sentiment as Outrigger. There are chances to organise short courses on ‘Supervisory’ and ‘Man-agement’ training will be mostly appreci-ated by their staffs who wants to do these training based on job promotions avail-ability and qualifications purposes,” said Mr Naciriyawa

“We also spoke to both the Executive Chef, who was from Manila, and Sous Chef (from Fiji) at the Shangri-la Fijian Resort. Both reveal that external train-ing would be only applicable for poten-tial staff during recruitment and selec-tion process. They look after their staff on management and refreshing training within their training department”.

Thirty candidates from the many applicants were shortlisted for an aptitude test by the leading

automotive company, Carpenters Motors for the apprenticeship programs in vari-ous trades. 10 best candidates were se-lected for the apprenticeship programme. This initiative was in collaboration with National Apprenticeship Training Depart-ment and Carpenters Motors, whereby 50% of the fees was sponsored by the National Apprenticeship Training Depart-ment.

“Aptitude test is designed to deter-mine a person’s ability in a particular skill or field of knowledge. This helps the com-panies in identifying the potential candi-date for the respective trades,” said the Manager National Apprenticeship, Mr.

Reenal Chand.This test performs two very impor-

tant functions. Firstly, it distinguishes be-tween those who do and those who do not have the potential and secondly, it re-veals the skills and strengths, as well as weaknesses that the employer will take into account in developing the individu-al’s teaching plan for on-the-job training. Quite naturally, there are differences in age and life experience, education, ac-cess to Apprentices, reading and writing levels, and other factors among those who are selected.

The National Fixed Operations Man-ager of Carpenters Motors, Mr. Richard Rahiman who also served apprenticeship said that the objective of getting all short-listed candidates to sit for Aptitude test is

as follows:• It provides proper assessment of can-

didate for apprenticeship.• It provides better objective criteria than

any other method.• It is uniform and all candidates sit for

the same exam.• It enables you to select the most suit-

able for the job.• It helps in reduction of labor turnover

due to proper selection method.He thanked National Apprenticeship

Training department for the partnership in the selection process and for providing support in recruitment process by subsi-dising 50% of the cost. This collaboration has taken place for the first time and he believes that this is the way forward and he added that Carpenters Fiji is proud to

Goodman Fielder welcomes Apprenticeship SchemeAustralian - based manufacturing

company Goodman Fielder In-ternational (GFL) has confirmed

its plans to come on board with National Apprenticeship Scheme of National Train-ing and Productivity Centre (NTPC) and recruit nine new Apprentices. The com-pany, which provides food manufacturing solutions to the house-holds in Fiji, is look-ing to expand its workforce into technical areas, and recruit Apprentices who can maintain the operation in their manufactur-ing plants- hub of Goodman Fielder.

As the part of their corporate succes-sion planning, Apprenticeships now form the part of recruitment at Goodman Fielder, which values having a young workforce to lead the manufacturing sector. They also believe that hiring people at entry level is beneficial, as organisation can mold them based on their work culture and skill re-quired their operations. These Apprentic-es will work as a normal staff of Goodman Fielder, earning a competitive salary whilst also gaining their theoretical qualification in their trade field. The Apprentices will be monitored by National Apprenticeship Department with Apprenticeship Officers continuous assessment on Apprentice’s theory and practical aspect of training.

GFL has committed to gradually allow the Apprentices to go for gap trainings with the other departments in NTPC to further enhance and develop their technical skills

as well as soft skills. GFL will al-low Appren-tices to work rotationally in different de-partments so that they are aware how every opera-tion is linked. Hence, these will enable Apprentices to learn, mul-ti- task and perform up to the expecta-tions of GFL.

A c c o r d -ing to George P e c k h a m and Rolf Gfeller at Goodman Fielder International “they are delighted to start playing a part in Apprentices success and the delivery of their qualification, which will create new avenues of progression for Apprentices within the manufacturing industry.”

“Goodman Fielder has confirmed to re-cruit Apprentices in Electrical, Fitting & Re-frigeration for their different plants in Fiji. As an employer they have demonstrated

enthusiasm and professionalism in equal measures towards building their workforce with Apprentices. The response we have received from the GFL is very supportive and promising. Our relationship is strate-gically important as we continue to source and develop the next generation of Ap-prenticeship talent for Goodman Fielder,” said the Manager National Apprentice-ship, Mr. Reenal Chand.

Aptitude Test for Carpenters Motors Staff

The NTPC newsletter is prepared by University Communications. Send your articles to MANTPC@fnu.ac.fj

FEEDBACK: Joseva RABONU

Mr. Joseva Rabonu, a former Administra-tion Officer with Ministry of Education is from Cakadrove Savusavu. Mr. Rabonu

formerly resigned from his post to take up Ad-vanced Diploma of Leadership and Management at Labasa.

Mr. Rabonu, who is of 30 years with 5 years of experience in administration work, has very

thoughtfully taken up studies for a brighter future, after obtaining an Australian qualification, which is delivered in Fiji at a much lower cost in comparison to Australia.

He intends to extent his knowledge in leadership and for better management of his future job and highly recommends this course to others to pursue, for better tomorrow, and raising productivity.

Central Western Northern

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