The Higher Education Commission Fiji today announced their External Review committee which comprises of top level personnel in Fiji and abroad with the likes of Professor Simon Wilkie and Professor Paresh Narayan from Monash University in Australia, Joel Abraham from Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission, Rex Haroi from the South Pacific Climate Change envoy, Seema Shandil from Consumer Council of Fiji and Doctor Emily Yalimaiwai from the Strategy Operations and Culture Fiji.
Professor Wilkie will be the Chair of the committee.
While making the announcement today, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says in the ever-evolving landscape of education, the performance and standards of our universities must be periodically assessed.
Radrodro says this initiative is not only an affirmation of the Ministry’s commitment to providing world-class education but also a testament to its dedication to continuous improvement.
He says the mandatory review of the Universities requires qualified and experienced individuals who have undertaken similar work at the regional and international levels.
Radrodro says under Section 9 of the Act and Sections 35 to 45 of the Higher Education Regulations 2009, an institution registered with the Commission shall be reviewed for quality assurance periodically and a university shall be reviewed every 5 years.
He adds the individuals who have been elected to be a part of the committee possess a wealth of experience and knowledge and have demonstrated a strong commitment to upholding the highest academic standards.
Radrodro says these individuals have been carefully selected to serve as pillars of expertise and impartiality in this critical endeavour.
He says the committee’s primary objective will be to assess the overall quality of education and research at our universities, evaluate the effectiveness of governance and administration, review academic and support services and make recommendations to enhance the overall quality of our institutions.
Radrodro emphasised that this review is not a criticism of our universities but a collaborative effort to make them even better.
He says the findings and the recommendations of the committee will provide a roadmap for further improvement and growth in the higher education sector.
Radrodro says he is confident that this Committee will work diligently and impartially, taking into consideration the unique challenges and opportunities that our universities face.
He says the announcement of this committee sends a clear message that Fiji is committed to ensuring the highest standards in education.
The Minister thanked the committee for their willingness to serve and to all those that will be involved in this essential undertaking and he looks forward to seeing the positive impact of this initiative in Fiji.
