FFIJI GOVERNMENT OPENS NEW INSTITUTE TO ELEVATE CIVIL SERVICE EXCELLENCE

SUVA - The Coalition Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the civil service with the official opening of the Fiji Learning Institute for Public Service (FLIPS).

The new institute will serve as an important training facility for Fiji’s civil servants, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to enhance public service delivery to improve the standard of living for our people.

 Officiating the event this morning, Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Service Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka highlighted that civil servants are the “backbone of government”.

 “Today's opening of this magnificent institute with its facilities, is a physical demonstration of government's commitment to capacity-building for over 35,000 of our public servants across the four divisions,” PM Rabuka asserted.

 “The Civil Service is responsible for implementing and enforcing Government’s national development aspirations. I am rest assured that the national and international learning opportunities that will be coordinated under FLIPS, will strengthen the capacity of civil servants, ensuring continuous skills development.”

 The institute was established following the Coalition Government’s approval at its Cabinet meeting in March, last year.

 More than a million dollars was allocated in the 2024–2025 national budget to support this development.

 “I have been told that the training that will be conducted in this facility will amongst others, include Public Service Exams, Customer Services, Ethics and Code of Conduct, Quality Circles, Project Management and Monitoring, development of Civil Service policies and initiatives, Finance for Non-Finance Officers, Government Legislations, Governance and Leadership, Public Administration and Management, Human Resources Management, and Local Government Administration and Management,” added the PM.

 “The institute will also be a Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices and building up the body of knowledge in modern diplomacy through the provision of high-quality specialised courses for Fiji’s Foreign Service officers.”

 The Australian Government also supported the establishment of the institute by providing furniture, audio-visual equipment, and learning aids to fully equip the Vuvale Talanoa House, a pre-existing furnished building within the facility.

 There are three dedicated training rooms, each having a seating capacity of 100 persons. The rooms are the Vuvale Talanoa House, the Ocean of Peace Building and the William Cruickshank Building.