Fiji expands digital training academy with Australian grant
SUVA, FIJI — Fiji is taking a significant step toward strengthening its digital workforce as ICT solutions provider Datec Fiji expands its training academy in Suva, supported by a grant from the Australian government’s Market Development Facility (MDF).
According to a report from The Fiji Times, the initiative aims to equip Fijians with high-demand digital skills and bolster the country’s growing outsourcing sector.
Building a future-ready workforce
The enhanced academy will offer accredited training in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and digital systems, addressing the needs of knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and information technology outsourcing (ITO) firms seeking highly skilled talent.
“This academy is about building a future-ready workforce,” Datec Fiji chief executive officer Vinit Nand said.
“We’re investing in people, especially women, youth and people with disabilities, so they can thrive in high-value digital careers and help reinforce Fiji’s position as a competitive outsourcing destination and ICT hub,” Nand added.
In a press release, Datec Fiji said that the program is set to train over 100 participants annually, with accreditation from the Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC). Students will also have access to financial support through the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) and the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Service (TSLS), making the academy both accessible and sustainable.
Industry-aligned training and inclusive participation
MDF’s support will ensure the curriculum is tailored to industry requirements and includes a training-of-trainers program led by a master trainer for local instructors. Infrastructure and technology investments will also make the programs accessible for people with disabilities.
“This partnership tackles that challenge head-on. It creates pathways for Fijians to gain industry-relevant training in BPO, KPO and ICT – complementing government initiatives under the National Development Plan (NDP) and Vision 2050,” said MDF country director Kelera Cavuilati.
She highlighted that the outsourcing sector, contributing more than FJD 200 million (US$88 million) annually and employing over 8,000 people, depends heavily on human capital to sustain its growth.
Outsource Fiji executive director Josefa Wivou noted that while the sector has grown substantially in recent years, the lack of skilled talent in the market had become a fundamental challenge to sustaining that momentum.
Datec is also planning to invest close to $250,000 to build the infrastructure needed to support the training fully.
The expansion of Datec Fiji’s academy reflects a broader trend in the Pacific region: outsourcing growth is increasingly tied to workforce readiness.
By aligning education with industry demands and ensuring inclusive participation, initiatives like this not only fill the skills gap but also position Fiji as a competitive hub for digital outsourcing, attracting higher-value KPO and ITO contracts while creating tangible opportunities for local communities.
