The Centre for Appropriate Technology Development (CATD) in Nadave, Tailevu, is steadily transforming its approach to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with the aim of becoming a pioneer model town for sustainable living and green economy.
“Greening” TVET refers to efforts to realign existing TVET institutions and policies in order to achieve sustainable development.
CATD director Apolosi Silatolu shared the institution’s broader vision beyond being a conventional school.
“CATD aspires to transcend the conventional role of a school and emerge as a model town for sustainable living, a blueprint for a blue and green economy,” Mr Silatolu said.
“Our commitment lies in inspiring progress, empowering lives, and fostering harmonious co-existence with our planet.”
In “greening” its TVET curriculum, Nadave CATD will reorient the institutions’ policies to achieve sustainable development goals.
Mr Silatolu highlighted specific initiatives within CATD’s programs, illustrating the integration of eco-friendly practices into various technical disciplines.
“We’ve started to go into bio-toilet and bio-gas systems to convert waste into methane gas, and hot water systems in our plumbing curriculum.
“So, you not only have a normal mainstream plumber, but you also have a plumber that can practice his or her trade and yet look after the environment at the same time.
“For our automotive and engineering department, we are going into conversion of combustion engines to electric engines of outboard motors.
“Of late, we’ve introduced a sustainable boat building curriculum in partnership with APTC (Australia Pacific Training Coalition) who’s been helping us to develop the curriculum and through the Higher Education Commission (FHEC) to accredit and recognise it as a provider and a national qualification. And that’s the dream.”
Mr Silatolu said CATD had a number of pilot projects lined up, for which it hoped to get support of partners.
“In terms of the greening TVET curriculum, we found that this is a niche that Nadave is going into and it’s Nadave’s point of difference basically. It makes us unique as an institution,” he said.
“It’s green TVET, and it’s something that we are looking to the partners that we have to support the many pilot projects that we are piloting, here at the institution, which goes along with the name that we have, the CATD and the key word there is Appropriate Technology.
“The term “appropriate technology” underscores the institution’s dedication to evolving with the times and developing technologies relevant to contemporary Fiji.”
Mr Silatolu urged partners to embrace an innovative mindset, acknowledging the need for unconventional thinking to pilot and implement solutions that address community-level challenges.
“It’s appropriate in this day and age. What was appropriate 40 years ago might not be appropriate today and we need to continue to evolve, continue to research and develop new and appropriate technology that’s relevant to Fiji today, and that’s something that I’m calling out to all partners (to support).”
