One of Samoa's most famous comedians had a serious message for college students at the University of the South Pacific (U.S.P.): the importance of continuing onto further education. 

Tofiga Fepulea’i was the perfect spokesman for the launch of the U.S.P.’s Pacific Technical and Further Education (T.A.F.E.), a new initiative that combines entertainment and education to encourage the uptake of higher education. 

The launch provided Year 12 and 13 students, teachers and parents a chance to learn more about Pacific T.A.F.E.’s Technical and Vocational Training (T.V.E.T.) programmes at the university's Alafua Campus in Samoa.

Various students from colleges such as Robert Louis Stevenson Secondary School , Pesega College, Avele College and Saint Joseph's College were in attendance. 

Mr. Fepuleai advised the students to make the most of Tuesday's chance to learn more about opportunities on offer and stressed the integral role of education in life.  

“Some opportunities are only once in a lifetime and if we miss our chances then you can never get it back,” he said.

His pitch to students to choose U.S.P. focused mostly on what he said were a good array of courses on offer for prospective students. 

“The good thing with U.S.P. is that all the courses are accredited and are recognised overseas so if students graduate from U.S.P. they can take their certificates to New Zealand or Australia and be able to have access to job opportunities," he said. 

“Students should be more open minded and grab every opportunity they come across in life and most importantly they need to courageous in things that will make their parents proud and benefit them through education not unnecessary things that will get them in trouble.”

Pacific T.A.F.E. is an amalgamated and integrated learning and teaching division. It offers Skills Based Qualifications, Foundation, and Preliminary studies. 

The programmes provide employment opportunities at entry and para professional levels, pathways for further studies at U.S.P. and career advancement opportunities for those already in the workforce. 

U.S.P.’s revised Strategic Plan for 2019-2021 (Shaping Pacific Futures) casts the vision of the university as shaping Pacific futures by empowering students, staff and alumni to become agents of change leading innovation in their communities.

The five learning and teaching units for Pacific T.A.F.E. take place in the: College of Business and Commerce; College of Tourism and Hospitality; College of Arts and Humanities; College of Science, Technology and Environment; and Workforce Development Training Unit.

Pacific T.A.F.E. incorporates interdisciplinary colleges and centres. The Foundation Arts, Foundation Business, Foundation Science Programmes have been given recognition by Universities New Zealand. 

The Workforce Development Training Unit is a certified continuing professional development module in the United Kingdom. In total 100 countries recognise U.S.P.'s short courses.