๐‘บ๐’๐’๐’๐’Ž๐’๐’ ๐‘ฐ๐’”๐’๐’‚๐’๐’…๐’” ๐‘ต๐’‚๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’๐’‚๐’ ๐‘ผ๐’๐’Š๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’”๐’Š๐’•๐’š ๐‘พ๐’†๐’๐’„๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’” ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’† ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜ ๐‘น๐’†๐’‘๐’๐’“๐’• ๐‘บ๐’–๐’‘๐’‘๐’๐’“๐’•๐’†๐’… ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ผ๐‘ฒ ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’๐’•

31-03-2024

๐‘ท๐’“๐’†๐’”๐’” ๐‘น๐’†๐’๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’†

๐‘บ๐’๐’๐’๐’Ž๐’๐’ ๐‘ฐ๐’”๐’๐’‚๐’๐’…๐’” ๐‘ต๐’‚๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’๐’‚๐’ ๐‘ผ๐’๐’Š๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’”๐’Š๐’•๐’š ๐‘พ๐’†๐’๐’„๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’” ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’† ๐‘น๐’†๐’—๐’Š๐’†๐’˜ ๐‘น๐’†๐’‘๐’๐’“๐’• ๐‘บ๐’–๐’‘๐’‘๐’๐’“๐’•๐’†๐’… ๐’ƒ๐’š ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ผ๐‘ฒ ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’๐’•

Honiara, Solomon Islands โ€“ Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is pleased to announce the completion of a comprehensive review of its governance systems and processes, generously funded by the UK Government. The review, conducted by the Association of Higher Educational Professionals (AHEP), represents a significant step forward in the University’s ongoing efforts to enhance its operational and academic frameworks.

The AHEP report highlights key areas for development, including governance and management, strategy and planning, academic administration, quality assurance, financial operations, and IT systems. The review also presents a series of recommendations prioritized into immediate and long-term actions, aiming to bolster SINUโ€™s position as an academically credible and financially sustainable institution with strong international ties.

Vice Chancellor, Professor Transform Aqorau, expressed his gratitude for the insightful findings: “We are very pleased with the Report as it provides an independent overview of what we can do to improve the University. This is something that we have needed for a long time because we need to build up and improve our systems and processes to be able to get donor support to improve the University.”

The review commenced with the endorsement of the British Foreign Secretary during his visit in April 2023, underscoring the deep educational partnership between the UK and the Solomon Islands. AHEP’s team, led by Tim Cobbett, conducted extensive research, including site visits and stakeholder interviews, to craft a detailed and constructive analysis of SINU’s governance landscape.

Key findings from the review underscore the need for strengthening governance structures, enhancing financial and administrative systems, and fostering a student-centred approach to university operations. These findings align with Vice Chancellor Aqorau’s vision of creating a robust, bankable, and academically interconnected university.

Professor Transform Aqorau has already initiated significant steps toward transforming SINU into a student-centered university, in line with the AHEP report’s emphasis on enhancing student engagement in university affairs. Beginning in Semester 2, all University and Faculty-wide standing committees are mandated to include student representatives, ensuring their views and concerns are integral to the decision-making process. This move aligns with the reportโ€™s findings that students’ needs should be a primary consideration in policy development, advocating for their active participation across all levels of the University, from unit discussions to governance committees.

 

Professor Aqorau commented, “Moving towards a Student-Centred University is essential for SINUโ€™s evolution. We are committed to integrating student voices into our committees, including the Senate, to ensure they are equal partners in the learning experience. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop a nurturing academic community and a student-focused culture at SINU.”

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to evolve the Universityโ€™s culture, aiming for an outward-looking, student-focused institution committed to academic and professional excellence. By integrating student perspectives into its governance and enhancing the academic community, SINU is laying the groundwork for a comprehensive transformation that will benefit all stakeholders.

SINU is committed to implementing the report’s recommendations, starting with the immediate priorities that include the development of a new Student Management System, and addressing the financial issues which Professor Aqorau described as the low hanging fruits.

This governance review marks a pivotal moment in SINUโ€™s journey towards academic excellence and operational efficiency. With the support of the UK Government and the expert guidance from AHEP, SINU is set to embark on a transformative path that will improve its reputation in the Pacific region.

 

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