Pioneer students graduate from centre

By Hyunsook Siutaia 05 October 2020, 8:00AM

A total of 31 students have graduated from the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology with certificates in office automation, business computing and advanced web.

The graduation was held last Friday with the National University of Samoa [N.U.S.] Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alec Ekeroma, delivering the keynote address at the graduation ceremony.

He congratulated the graduating class as they are the first group to pass out since the establishment of the India-Samoa Centre of Excellence in Information Technology [CEIT] last year.

"I believe that the profound knowledge and skills you have acquired from these certificate programmes will enable you to pursue advanced ICT studies at NUS or elsewhere," Professor Ekeroma said.

"This is the beginning of the realization of the Government of Samoa’s dream to build local ICT capacity and increase the number of skilled and qualified ICT personnel within our country."

The Deputy Director of CEIT, Dr Edna Temese Ualesi, told the Samoa Observer in an interview that the graduation was set to be held straight after the first semester.

However, it was postponed because they had to wait for the certificates to arrive from India. 

"We asked them if we could print the certificates here but they wanted us to send the names and they’ll print it and send it over and that’s why it was late," she added.

"This was the graduation for the first semester, but we do have courses going on now that should finish around November."

According to Dr Edna, some of the students who enrolled in the course in the first semester weren't able to complete it, as most work and have other commitments hence why they had to withdraw. 

However, she said that they are very proud of the graduating class and that it marks a milestone as the graduates are the first-ever group to have graduated since the centre was opened.

She said courses are open to anyone as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. 

CEIT was officially launched on 13 March this year by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and High Commissioner of India to Samoa, Muktesh Pardeshi. 

The actual project started in August 2019 when the Indian Director and Trainer arrived in Samoa. 

By Hyunsook Siutaia 05 October 2020, 8:00AM

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