Teachers in Fiji can look forward to gaining international recognition as Fiji National University’s College of Humanities and Education has engaged New Zealand based Academic Quality Agency to conduct an external review of selected teacher education programmes and provide guidance on obtaining international recognition.
FNU Vice‑Chancellor Professor Nigel Healey says this system of external peer review is widely used in many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the UK, and the methodology is fairly standardized.
He says it is an excellent way of benchmarking programmes on international best practice and identifying areas and practices which can be improved.
Professor Healey adds the review by Academic Quality Agency offers a route to international recognition by institutions like New Zealand’s Qualifications Recognition Service, but that the University was also looking at other routes to more formal international accreditation.
Healey says they are aware that New Zealand has a systemic teacher shortage and is actively recruiting experienced teachers from Fiji.
He says there is a risk that international recognition of Fiji’s teacher education programmes may increase this ‘brain drain’ but, the additional risk is relatively small as New Zealand is seeking experienced teachers with several years of service and offset by the benefits to our graduates of studying in an internationally‑benchmarked programme.
Dean College of Humanities and Education, Dr Eci Nabalarua says the Academic Quality Agency team’s site visit will be for three days where they will interview both internal and external stakeholders about the programmes.
The exercise, which is expected to place next year, is in line with FNU’s Strategic Plan of external programme audit and international accreditation.
The final report from Academic Quality Agency is expected to be given to the College by May 2020.
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