The India-Cook Islands Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) is a registered private tertiary provider located on Rarotonga at the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands Campus. CEIT was established through a bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the Cook Islands in May 2017 for the purpose of strengthening IT development, education and scholarship opportunities for Cook Islands citizens.

The Centre aims to deliver quality advanced certified training and scholarship opportunities to IT professionals in-country. These courses are designed to meet the skill needs identified by the government and private sector. CEIT also provides basic computer literacy training to office workers and business professionals with the aim to improve workforce productivity.

The Centre began offering courses to IT professionals in September 2019 starting with the Certificate course in Network Security, and then Linux Systems Administration. In June 2020 CEIT launched the country’s first Certificate Course in Cyber Forensics and Cyber Laws which attracted 25 eager students from both the private and public sector. In response to the increased demand for basic computer courses CEIT promoted the Certificate Course in Business Computing and the Office Automation course for business professionals and office workers.

Since CEIT was launched in September 2019 it has enrolled and certified over 150 Cook Islands residents.

Supporting youth in STEM and Robotics

In August 2019 the Centre of Excellence, University of the South Pacific and Tereora College collaborated to develop the country’s first Robotics Club. The aim of this initiative was to promote and encourage young people to consider education and career opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). In six weeks six students endeavored to design, build, program a robot which they would use to compete in the First Global Robotics Competition in Dubai. The national competition succeeded in generating interest from over 80 secondary students on Rarotonga, and the panel of 9 judges received over 70 robot design entries. The Cook Islands Robotics Team would compete against 189 countries and place 30th overall.

Private sector support

CEIT works with Private businesses to identify training needs and skills gaps in the workforce, and develops training programmes that meet those demands. Vodafone CI, CITC IT Manager Damon Enoka, and Te Aponga Uira were the top sponsors of the Cook Islands Robotics Club in 2019.

    CEIT Facilities

    CEIT is fully equipped with a brand new computer training lab, onsite library, video conference facilities for teaching and learning.

    • Computer Lab
    • Library
    • Video Conference Room

    Certificates and accreditations

    Certificate Courses delivered by CEIT are nationally accredited by the Government of India National Standards Qualification Framework (NSQF) of the National Skills Development Agency (NSDA) Government of India and in partnership with India European Union Skills Development Project. 

    CEIT Faculty Staff

    CEIT Faculty staff are available to provide academic and career counselling, course development, teaching, and student support. Staff are available by appointment only and we suggest you send an email to the appropriate staff member below.

    For Administration matters please email: ci-ceit@usp.ac.fj

    Ms. Mii Nimerota | CEIT Director

    A Cook Islander, Ms. Mii Nimerota is a longtime advocate for information technology advancement, and is the Director of the Centre of Excellence in IT with the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands Campus. Ms. Nimerota holds a Masters Degree in Information Systems, accredited to the Australian Computer Society, a Post Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Information Systems and Management & Public Administration from the University of the South Pacific. Mii has 10 years experience teaching information systems, information and communication literacy with USP, and has facilitated many community workshops in social media, website development, and basic computing skills to people of all ages.

    Email: miimetua.nimerota@cookislands.gov.ck

    Mr. Rex Valoa | CEIT Master Trainer

    The Cook Islands first CEIT scholarship recipient and locally qualified Master Trainer, Rex Valoa has successfully completed 600 hours full-time Diploma in Advanced Computing with the Centre for the Development of Advanced Computing (Scientific Society of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India) Advanced Training School. Rex holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Masters in Information Systems (MIS) from the University of the South Pacific, and has an impressive 20 years work experience in IT. Rex is currently the Manager Information Communication Technology at BCI.

    Rex will be facilitating the Certificate Course in Business Computing and Advanced Web Technology this Semester 2, 2021!

    Email: rex.valoa@bci.co.ck

    Ms. Divya Das | Master Trainer

    Ms. Divya Das has completed his Masters of Technology (M.Tech.) in Computer Science and Engineering in 2013 from India. Prior to that she has done Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Information Technology from India in 2009. Ms. Divya Das started her career as a Lecturer in IT and worked as Assistant Professor in several Universities in India and Published IEEE Papers in International Journals Also Presented IEEE Papers at National Conferences, Seminars etc. Also she worked on multiple projects with multidisciplinary teams, both nationally and internationally. He has an overall experience of more than 8 years in teaching in leading Institutes in India and possess high skills in Machine Learning, Web Design and is currently working with CDAC.

    Email: ddivya@cdac.in

    Mr. Jaibheem Gaikwad | Centre Head

    Mr. Jaibheem has completed his Masters of Technology (M.Tech.) in Digital Communications in 2015 from India. Prior to that he has done Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Electronics & Communications from India in 2012. Mr. Jaibheem started his career as a Network Engineer and He worked as Assistant Professor in several Universities in India and Published IEEE Papers in International Journals Also Presented IEEE Papers at National Conferences, Seminars etc. Also He worked on multiple projects with multidisciplinary teams, both nationally and internationally. He has an overall experience of more than 8 years in teaching in leading Institutes in India and possess high skills in Java & Networking Protocols, and is currently working with CDAC.

    Email: Jaibheem@cdac.in