NUS FIRST OPEN DAY & CULTURE DAY COMBINED

Apia, Samoa – Thursday, 8th September 2022.

The National University of Samoa successfully hosted its combined Open Day and Culture Day last Friday, 2^nd September 2022. About 650 Year 13 students from 26 colleges in Upolu gathered at the NUS Gym to witness this event. The purpose of this event, according to Deputy Vice Chancellor Peseta Dr Desmond Lee Hang, “…was two-fold, first to inform Year 13 students about our entry requirements into our Foundation, Preliminary and TVET programmes for 2023; and second, to showcase our culture through various traditional songs and dance performances during the day.”

The program started with an Ava Ceremony followed by the opening prayer by Deacon Ah Tong before the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aiono Alec Ekeroma welcomed the Year 13 students, teachers, parents, guests and sponsors as well as officially opened the event. The Masters of Ceremony or the MCs were Ta’iao Dr Matavai Tautunu (Director of the Centre for Samoan Studies) and Ms. Faith Esera (Open & Distance Learning Officer, Oloamanu Centre). The cultural performances included a traditional welcome song from the Faculty of Education students. A mauluulu and sasa performed by the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science students. In addition, the students from the School of Maritime and the Oloamanu Centre demonstrated an impressive rendition of the siva tau, while the Faculty of Health Science and the Faculty of Technical Education brought the house down with their contemporary dance and faataupati.

Students from the Faculty of Business and Entrepreneurship as well as from the Centre for Samoan Studies concluded the cultural performances with a closing song and the taualuga.

The programme also included colleges being divided into small manageable groups for the campus tours to pre-selected sites, including visits to the displays, exhibitions and information booths set up in the NUS Gym by the various Faculties, Schools, Centres as well as the Library and Student Services, the FOA Students Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Group, plus the NUS Students Association (NUSSA). The Campus tour groups were led by NUS student leaders as tour guides. Lunch was also provided for all the students.

A general survey of college students that participated gave a thumbs up for an enjoyable and informative programme.

The University wishes to acknowledge its Gold sponsors: Vodafone Samoa & SSAB, as well as its Silver and Bronze Sponsors – Tisaan , SIFA & Go Advertising, for without their valuable assistance this programme would not have been successful. And finally, the University also wish to thank the Principals of the local colleges for availing their Year 13 students to participate in this year’s Open Day & Culture Day programme.

According to DVC Peseta, “We have received a lot of positive feedback from parents and the general public about our successful Open Day & Culture Day last Friday and it is a reflection of our collective resolve when we share a clear vision. Viia le Alii”.

                                                                                    END