Montagnier calls for more women participation in automotive

The French ambassador to Fiji, Gilles Montagnier would like to see more women involved in the field of automotives.

His remark comes after seeing that out of the 15 graduates of the Fiji National University advanced automotive electronic training course there was only one female participant.

“I’m surprised that she (Siteri Rasousou) was the only lady that graduated today. I wish there was more. In today’s time you don’t need to be like a 300 pound man to be able to do automotives. Technology has gone far to make it suitable for even the tiniest of women,” he said.

The 3-week training involved current automotive lecturers at FNU who used the opportunity to gain a greater perspective on the automotive system.

Acting Dean for the College of Engineering Science and Technology, Salabogi Mavoa said the training ensured that students do not only become more knowledgeable but better mechanics who would benefit the country.

“It is a great merger with the French government because now our students can be up to par with the latest technology,” he said.

The new system has 10 electronic units that cater for the different sections in an automotive system and their distinctive functions as opposed to only one catering for the whole.

The program initially begun on a Memorandum of Understanding between the French Government and FNU. The MOU was signed recently, but the project had begun last year with the next intake scheduled for November which will run through to December.

By Kalesi Mele