Scholarship boosts Pacific customs
Edward O'Daly
22 May 2007: One of the Oceania's leading customs officers will study a master's degree at the University of Canberra having been awarded a scholarship last week.
Fijian customs national manager for revenue services Watson Rauicava was one of 20 customs officials from 17 Pacific countries who participated in a four week customs management training course run by the University's Centre for Customs and Excise Studies.
His performance on the course earned him the chance to take an online Master of International Customs Law and Administration, jointly funded by the CCES and the Oceania Customs Organisation.
“Having qualified people is important in terms of managing and modernising our customs organisation,” Mr Rauivaca, a customs officer with 19 years experience, said.
“This is a vast area of interest covering everything from security to revenue collection, I have a lot of experience, but I want academic qualifications and theory to put into practice.”
Mr Rauivaca accepts his scholarship from CCES head David Widdowson
The inaugural four week program sponsored by the Australian Customs Service and the New Zealand Customs Service in association with the Oceania Customs Organisation, to enhance networks between regional customs administrations, develop management and leadership capacity within these administrations and contribute to improved capacity for customs administrations across the Pacific, convenor Athol Gardiner said. |
