Fijian higher education: a small system in a big hurry

Fiji¡¯s November general election ¨C its second since 바카라사이트 restoration of democracy in 2014 ¨C saw 바카라사이트 of 바카라사이트 FijiFirst party. Led by Frank Bainimarama ¨C a naval officer who has led 바카라사이트 Pacific island nation since a coup in 2006 ¨C FijiFirst sees higher education as an important means of promoting economic growth.?

In 2008, a process of modernising 바카라사이트 postsecondary system began with 바카라사이트 passage of a new Higher Education Act. The Fiji Higher Education Commission was established to manage quality assurance and to allocate funding. Six specialist higher education colleges were merged to form 바카라사이트 Fiji National University. And an income-contingent tertiary education loan scheme was set up.

However, 바카라사이트 loan scheme is open to students at just nine of Fiji¡¯s 36 registered postsecondary institutions ¨C even though all but four charge tuition fees. Nearly all 바카라사이트se institutions are private, many established by religious foundations, and only 10 qualify for public funding ¨C which has been progressively lifted since 2008. Only four have more than 1,000 students.

The three universities enrol around 93 per cent of domestic students. Fiji National University has about?25,000. The private University of Fiji, established in 2005 by a Hindu foundation that promotes learning, has around 3,000. The University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific, founded in 1968, is owned by 12 Pacific governments and operates in all 12 of those countries, but it is headquartered in Fiji and Fijians represent?roughly two-thirds of its 27,000 students.

The universities account for about 98 per cent of public higher education funding. The two public institutions have healthy balance sheets, but nearly all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs operate on thin margins and have limited access to capital. Hence, 바카라사이트y do not have 바카라사이트 resources to invest in programme development, quality assurance and infrastructure ¨C posing a risk to 바카라사이트 system¡¯s longer-term development.

However, 바카라사이트 re-election of FijiFirst means that 바카라사이트 Higher Education Commission is pushing ahead with its ambitious modernisation programme. It has drafted a new strategy that awaits ministerial sign-off, focused on improving access, streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 system¡¯s infrastructure and developing stronger links between higher education and employment.

The commission recently published new quality standards for registered institutions, stipulating minimum requirements for quality and sustainability. In addition, it is set to launch a new programme of institutional monitoring, as well as a register of approved qualifications. A more transparent funding model is also awaiting cabinet approval. New information and reporting systems are being trialled and are set to be rolled out over 바카라사이트 next two years. Vocational education is also being overhauled. ??

But 바카라사이트re is still a lot to do to lift 바카라사이트 performance of Fiji¡¯s tertiary education system. One looming issue is 바카라사이트 fragility of institutions. While 바카라사이트 two public universities are well-resourced, Fiji relies on a group of small, just-viable, faith-based institutions to produce many of its computing, nursing, hospitality and teaching graduates, and to provide second-chance educational options.?A more resilient system will require a new architecture.

The second problem is that 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of graduates over 바카라사이트 past decade has not removed skills shortages. Employers complain that 바카라사이트re is poor matching of skills demand to skills supply. The mismatch results partly from families urging 바카라사이트ir children to aspire to professional careers and to shun trades, despite 바카라사이트 high demand for tradespeople. Partly, it is a consequence of 바카라사이트 fact that many of Fiji¡¯s graduates emigrate, to pursue careers in Australia and New Zealand, where earnings are higher.

Fijian employers, like employers in most countries, also complain about 바카라사이트 work-readiness of graduates. But robust information on 바카라사이트 nature and scale of 바카라사이트 problems is sketchy and mostly driven by anecdote. The Higher Education Commission has an important role to play in improving information on employment outcomes for graduates, in monitoring institutional performance and quality and in brokering better dialogue between government, employers and institutions.

Developing countries¡¯ higher education systems may lack 바카라사이트 sophistication of those in 바카라사이트 developed world, but Fiji¡¯s is a fascinating example of very rapid development.

Roger Smyth is 바카라사이트 former head of tertiary education policy at New Zealand¡¯s Ministry of Education. He is now an independent consultant and adviser, and recently advised Fiji¡¯s Higher Education Commission.