As a part of its efforts to professionalise its Foreign Service, Fiji is developing a course to train Fijians to become diplomats.
The Fijian Public Service and the Foreign Affairs Ministry will conduct an induction course in Suva from June 4 to 12, 2014.
Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan Isikeli Mataitoga will facilitate the programme.
Public Service Permanent Secretary Parmesh Chand said that such programme emphasise the need to enhance the quality of the Fiji Foreign Service and enable the country to participate in multilateral and international affairs.
The Public Service had called for applications from Fijian nationals who are undergraduates with relevant work experience.
Preferred candidates
Undergraduates in in Law, Economics, Political Science, Development Studies, Resource Management, Project Management, ICT, Business Management and Marketing with appropriate experience may get preference.
The course is also open to a limited number of private and community sector applicants as well as representatives from regional countries. Applicants from the Civil service and Disciplinary Forces applicants must be at Administrative Level or from the senior ranks of the Officer corps respectively.
“Diplomats should be versatile and keep abreast of the changing socioeconomic climate. The Diplomatic Induction Course looks to enhance the capabilities of those who are passionate about serving Fiji on an international platform. As our representatives to the world stage, the up-scaling of the skills of these officers will push to integrate our country into the international community,” Mr Chand said.
