Tonga Public Service Commission signed student work placement agreement with the BYU Featured
Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika and Vice President Dr. John D. Dell of BYU-Hawaii
10 July, 2019. The Tonga Public Service Commission has signed a student work placement program agreement with the Brigham Young University – Hawaii.
This allows for Tongan students at the University to be placed in a relevant Tonga Government Ministry, where part of their course requires work placement. The work placements will be for a period of up to nine months.
All expenses for the student’s air travel, insurance, and accommodation will be borne by the University program. The agreement will be at no cost to the Tonga Government.
There are more than 160 Tongan students currently enrolled at the University, studying a wide range of courses including Tourism, Marketing, Business and Information Technology
The agreement is the culmination of more than 16 months of discussions between the Public Service Commission and Brigham Young University.
During an official visit to Hawaii, Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika, was able to attend and sign the agreement at a ceremony held at the University’s Lāʻie campus.
University President Dr. John Bell, Vice-President for Academics, signed on behalf of the University. In attendance was James Faustino, the Director of Admissions, Alumni and Career Services, as well as various staff and Tongan students.
The President and CEO of the world famous Hawaii Polynesian Cultural Center, Alfred Grace, was also present, as well as Director of Talent Management Seamus Fitzgerald, and Student Development Manager Kali Volavola.
At the signing, the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the Commission’s CEO Dr. Lia Maka and Head of Human Resources & Corporate Services Division Tupou Falemei Fale’s efforts in negotiating the agreement, and talked about the benefits and what signing the MOU means for Tongan students, as well as the Tonga Government.
A number of BYU students who had previously completed work placements in Government Ministries through their own arrangements were noted for their knowledge, professionalism, communication skills, and excellent customer service.
Tonga Government Ministries have been requested by the Commission to identify any possible needs they have that could match a student’s skills, and whether they would consider accommodating a Brigham Young University work placement student.
-PSC
