Many Tuvaluans have a strong connection with the sea, developed through involvement in the nation’s predominant maritime industry. Crucial to the development of this industry is the Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute (TMTI) in Amatuku, which provides around 120 marine cadets with basic skills to become seafarers each year.
Australia Awards Alumnus, Pine Timoteo is a lecturer at TMTI. He was first awarded a Trade Diploma in Nautical Science at the Fiji National University in 2012. This experience encouraged Pine’s interest and commitment to the sector.
Recognising Pine’s potential contribution to Tuvalu’s maritime and education sectors, in 2018, he was awarded an Australia Awards Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nautical Science) at the University of Tasmania – Australian Maritime College, which he says, helped him better to understand and address skills shortages in the maritime area.
The opportunity to study in Australia has deepened my understanding of this field which I can now share with TMTI trainees. The experience has also helped me be a better mentor to these young people and my workmates. I want to continue sharing what I have learned and further raise the profile of the industry.
Australia Awards Scholarships for Intake 2021 are open till 30 June 2020. For information on how to apply, call us on +688 20043 or visit our office today.