Press Release
11 March 2026
The Department of Forestry within the Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (FAFF) at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) conducted a formal courtesy visit to key timber industry stakeholders in Honiara earlier this week.
According to Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Mr Peter Mahoa, the visit marked the official commencement of the 2026 Work-Based Learning attachment for final-year Diploma students.
Mr Mahoa said a total of five Year Two students undertaking a Diploma in Tropical Forestry will complete a three-month practical attachment with four major timber processing and exporting companies in Honiara: VATA Timber Yard (Value Added Timber Association), Top Timber Company Ltd, SolPacific Timber Company Ltd, and Align Timber Mill.
He said the attachments form a core component of the studentsโ academic programme under the unit FOR512: Work-Based Learning, providing them with valuable hands-on experience in the forestry sector.
โThese five students placed with industry partners are among a total of eleven (11) Diploma in Tropical Forestry students undertaking their work attachments this year.
โPlacement proposals for the remaining six (6) students are currently with the Ministry of Forestry and Research (MoFR) for five (5) positions, while one (1) student will be hosted within the FAFF Department of Forestry at SINU.
โThe University acknowledges the Permanent Secretary of MoFR for the positive acknowledgement and looks forward to finalising the starting dates for these attachments soon.โ
During the visit, Mr Mahoa accompanied the students to each host company to introduce them to their workplace supervisors, discuss expectations, and hand over assessment documents designed to monitor and evaluate student performance throughout the attachment period.
Two first-year Bachelor of Forestry students also participated in the visits as part of their orientation week. This provided them with early exposure to the professional forestry environment and helped them visualise their future career pathways within the industry.
The partnership between SINUโs Department of Forestry and the Solomon Islands timber industry continues to strengthen, ensuring that graduates are not only academically qualified but also equipped with practical skills relevant to the needs of the forestry sector.
The University extends its sincere appreciation to VATA Timber Yard, Top Timber Company Ltd, SolPacific Timber Company Ltd, Align Timber Mill, and the Ministry of Forestry and Research for their continued support in developing the next generation of forestry professionals in Solomon Islands.
ENDS//