Master of Journalism student Rejinal Dutt is among the inaugural recipients of the PMPA Award provided by AusAID under the Australia Awards initiative.

The PMPA Awards target leaders and future leaders in the Pacific and offer practical work placements to high-achieving recipients of development scholarships.  The placements give recipients experience and insight into the daily management of an Australian business organisation and complement their postgraduate academic experience with on-the-job training.

Commencing in the January 2011 semester, Rejinal will undertake his practical work placement as a Teaching Fellow in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Rejinal said that he is very proud and excited to be given this opportunity to teach Journalism students.

“The PMPA award and work placement at Bond University will provide me with a very valuable experience,” he said.

Following his work placement, Rejinal plans to head back home to Fiji to commence employment as a tertiary journalism teacher.

“The knowledge I will gain from experiencing the work culture in Australia will definitely help me in my future career as a journalism academic,” he said.

“I am looking forward to going back home to contribute towards the development of journalism in Fiji and the Pacific."