Venue: VODAFONE ARENA
Vice Chancellor;
Chancellor & Chairman of FNU Council;
Council Members;
FNU Senior Management Group;
Parents;
Graduating students.
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to all of you.
It is indeed a pleasure to be here as Chief Guest at the Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Engineering, Science and Technology 2017 Graduation Ceremony.
I first want to thank the Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellors, College Acting Dean, all the talented Deans and Directors of FNU, whose dedication and great skill produced this stellar class of 2017.
To the mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles – all of whom are in attendance today – thank you for supporting these wonderful people who are poised now to bring great things to our country.
Most of all, hats off to the graduates of FNU’s College of Engineering, Science and Technology. It is an honor to be the Guest Speaker for such an esteemed group, at such a renowned institution.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I would like to start with a phrase which resonates with me and I quote, “The sea of knowledge knows no boundaries,” unquote. That phrase reminds me that learning does not begin or end with a university education. All of us here today are swimmers in the sea, on our own continuous journeys of learning, without boundaries, whether at home or at work, whether paid or unpaid, whether planned or by chance, whether we are graduating today or are here to support these graduates.
A good university like FNU brings together the theoretical and practical, fuels students with a desire to learn and keep learning, and equips them with key skills to do so.
To the graduating class of 2017, be reminded that you will spend your careers fulfilling a very important role in our society – you are builders. From constructing beautiful structures to behold, to designing networks of energy and communications that fuel the economy, to imagining systems to better feed and care for people and to building great companies and institutions – you are the builders.
And based on my observations of the world ladies and gentlemen, it is the builders amongst us that have generated the energy that has propelled the most significant and amazing transformational movements in our history. Builders brought on the Renaissance, builders brought on the Industrial Revolution, builders brought on the Digital Era. Builders set us apart. Builders ignite us. Builders change the world. That is the nature of your calling – the legacy of which you are the keepers.
You are not graduating in the 1950’s, or even in the early 2000s. You are graduating in the dawn of the 21st century and a new era. The convergence of digital communications technology and a seismic shift in energy is driving economic and social shifts at least as consequential as those of the 20th century industrial revolution.
You will be the builders of the physical, digital and social infrastructure whose hallmarks will include artificial intelligence, robotics and demand for 24/7 connectivity. You will be called upon to solve the problems of a growing and increasingly urbanized population and its impact on the physical world and social and economic systems.
You as a class, as a generation, have a monumental job ahead. You are the builders for the next Industrial Revolution. But you’re not out there untethered. Stories of builders are your legacy. Equally as important, these narratives are your roadmap. You must rethink our world for this new era, but build according to the principles of great builders who built with purpose, built for spiritual connection and built to support great invention to create a great economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen
At this juncture, I am happy to mention that one of the new Certificate programmes that will be introduced in 2018, is the Certificate 4 in Geology, Mining and Quarrying programme. The programme was developed to meet the training needs of the mining and quarrying industry in Fiji, given the important role it plays in our local economy. With the recent developments and interests in the bauxite mining in Bua and the exploration of minerals in Namosi and Naitasiri, the demand for more research and education in this field has enormously increased.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The industrial minerals, in particular sand, gravel and coral sand, are critically important for aggregate construction, cement manufacturing, the development of our nation’s infrastructure and the economy as a whole. In the 2017 – 2018 outlook for Fiji, it was estimated that the demand for sand and gravel stood at about F$100 million at quarry gate price. This was derived from the Fiji Road Authority’s expressed need of 560, 000m3 for this year alone and Pacific Cement’s current production of 15,000 tonnes of sand and gravel with cement in concrete per month or 720,000 tonnes per year. Therefore, the current annual use of sand and gravel for road construction or maintenance and concrete is around 1,280,000 tonnes, with an average price of F$102.4 million per year. Furthermore, these figures indicate the use of sand and gravel only, which currently contributes significantly to the Fijian economy and is expected to increase in the years ahead.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The figures I’ve just mentioned speaks volume, thus the need to sustainably develop our industrial mineral resources. Given that our mining and quarrying industry has been a major source of employment for most Fijians living in rural areas, it is extremely important to work together in preserving our natural resources for a sustainable future.
Therefore, with the implementation of Certificate 4 in Geology, Mining and Quarrying programme in 2018, not only will it benefit resource owners, it would also benefit the Mining and Quarrying Industry. For resource owners, the programme would empower them to sustainably conserve and manage their resources, whilst it would it would assist the Industry in producing better qualified and trained staff and personnel.
Having said that, I therefore urge all those interested in this course to talk to the FNU team looking after this programme. Ask them as many questions as possible and ensure you get all the information you need with regards to Certificate 4 in Geology, Mining and Quarrying programme.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Coming back to today’s event and returning to the phrase ‘The sea of knowledge has no boundaries,’ the role of the university can be seen to be a life raft for some, a navigational guide for others, helping us to separate and differentiate the ephemeral from the enduring.
But above all else, a modern university must promote a sense of connection and service to others, because when it comes down to it, none of us can know everything, none of us can individually master the data deluge or flood, the waves of new information and knowledge that arrive each moment.
We have to create systems, partnerships and networks to share generously our knowledge and experiences, to connect in a meaningful way the local to the global, the universal to the particular. ‘Reach your potential’ is a great motto, but to do so, we have to navigate the sea of knowledge. And with this, it’s either we sink or swim together.
Ladies and Gentlemen
With those words, I once again warmly congratulate all the students graduating today and I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.