First Mechanics & Trainers Graduate in Electric Vehicles Pioneering Course

Apia, Samoa – 10 April 2025 – The first ever certified local course for electric vehicle (EV) mechanics has been completed, with the participants receiving their certificates in a ceremony held at the National University of Samoa yesterday.

Thirty one drivers and vehicle operators from different Government Ministries and Authorities, and automotive trainers and teachers from the National University of Samoa, Don Bosco Technical College, and Laumua o Puna’oa Vocational School, have completed the four-day Train the Trainers course on EV automotive Professional Continuation Training (PCT), that was conducted at NUS.

The training was run by EV specialist, Paul Corbert, from REPCO New Zealand, and was made possible under the Japan-funded CAP-IT Project which promotes clean, green transport, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in close partnership with the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.

“This training is part of a broader effort under CAP-IT to build capacity where it matters most — in our institutions, in our teachers, and in our young people. This is only the beginning,” said Aliona Niculita, UNDP Resident Representative.

The first cohort of the Train the Trainers course on EV automotive Professional Continuation Training

“As we roll out new curricula, upgrade automotive workshops in three schools – which we launched yesterday, and scale up access to EV infrastructure, we are also investing in people — people like you — who will make this transition real, relevant, and lasting,” she said.

The trainers will now pass on their newfound skills and knowledge to their students, who will become the new generation of EV professionals who will lead the transition to green transport in Samoa.

“I’m grateful for this course and the new knowledge and skills I have gained, along with my  fellow teachers, which will go a long way in helping us to train and teach our youth at our school at Don Bosco Technical Centre at Alafua on this relatively new concept of green transport,” said Teaali’i Aukusitino Kalolo, Head of Department, Automotive and Mechanical Education at Don Bosco.

This course is the operationalization of the new curriculum and EV mechanics education that was launched yesterday, along with the Transport and Infrastructure Sector Decarbonization Strategy and Sustainable Land Use and Mobility Plan.

The design and rollout of this training programme was done in collaboration with the KVA consortium of Samoa and FLOW Consultants of New Zealand.