Press Release
15 June, 2026
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) on Friday, 12 June, recognised and celebrated the achievements of the first cohort of staff who successfully completed the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning (GCHETL).
A total of 24 SINU staff members who completed the programme in 2025 received certificates of recognition during a ceremony held at the SINU Lokol Fusion.
Speaking at the event, SINU Acting Vice Chancellor Associate Professor Eric Katovai congratulated the graduates, describing the programme as a strategic investment in the University’s future.
He said the qualification equips academic staff with the skills needed to lead curriculum reviews, programme development, quality assurance, and accreditation activities across SINU.
Associate Professor Katovai noted that many university programmes had not undergone comprehensive reviews for more than a decade and stressed the importance of ensuring programmes remain relevant to changing industry, technology, and higher education demands.
“As a self-accrediting institution, SINU must regularly benchmark its programmes against recognised standards to maintain quality, relevance, and credibility,” he said.
He thanked the Australian Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), for supporting the initiative, which will assist SINU’s curriculum review process and its journey toward accreditation with the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA).
“To our graduates, you are pioneers. The knowledge and skills you have gained will be instrumental in strengthening programme quality, developing new qualifications, and aligning our offerings with national, regional, and international standards,” he said.
Australian High Commission Counsellor for Human Development, Dr Tristan Armstrong, also congratulated the graduates and reaffirmed DFAT’s commitment to supporting the programme, saying the success of the first cohort demonstrated its value.
Representing SINU Senior Management, Dean of the School of Science and Technology Dr Clyde Puilingi congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the contribution of UTS facilitators and mentors.
He thanked Associate Professor Nicole Peperrel, Dr Shailesh Lal, Ms Sharon Coutts, Dr Kylie McKenna, and the wider UTS team for their dedication and support in developing SINU’s academic staff.
The GCHETL is an accredited postgraduate qualification delivered by UTS and funded by the Australian Government through DFAT and Australia Awards Solomon Islands.
Developed in 2024, the programme aims to provide SINU teaching staff with formal qualifications in tertiary education, prepare them for SITESA accreditation requirements, and build the University’s long-term capacity to deliver similar professional development programmes independently.
Cohort One is the first of three planned cohorts, with graduates already contributing to SITESA accreditation processes, mentoring Cohort Two participants, and helping design SINU’s future in-house qualification programme.
The certificate presentation was witnessed by members of the SINU Senior Management, SINU Staff, UTS representative, Australia Award representative, and representatives from the Australia High Commissioner in Honiara.
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