Cabinet has approved the Fiji National University Decree 2009.

The Decree will establish the Fiji National University (FNU), which will be formed with the merger of six state-owned institutions namely the Fiji Institute of Technology (FIT), the Fiji School of Medicine (FSM), the Fiji School of Nursing (FSN), the Lautoka Teachers College (LTC), the Fiji College of Advanced Education (FCAE), and the Fiji College of Agriculture (FCA).

The University will commence operations in 2010.

Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole.

Mr Bole said that an Interim Council for the FNU was formed earlier this year to carry out the necessary preparatory work in order for the University to commence operations from January 2010.

“Members of the Interim Council included the heads of the 6 tertiary institutions, a representative each from the Higher Education Commission and the Fiji National Qualifications Authority, and the Permanent Secretary for Education.”

Mr Bole said that the Interim Council has carried out extensive consultations with stakeholders and has so far finalised the logistics of the merger of the 6 institutions; the legislation that is necessary to govern the University; and the FNU budget.

Mr Bole said that the Interim Council has proposed that the six institutions be merged by reorganising the activities of the institutions into five separate colleges of the FNU.

“These colleges are: the College of Medicine, Health Sciences and Nursing – comprising the FSM and the FSN; the College of Humanities and Education - comprising the two teacher training colleges (LTC and FCAE) and the FIT’s Faculty of Humanities, Communication and Creative Arts; the College of Engineering, Science and Technology - comprising the Faculty of Applied Science, Engineering and Maritime Studies (less fisheries department) of the FIT; the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – comprising the FCA, the Fisheries section of the FIT, and the newly developed programmes in Forestry at FIT; and the College of Business and Hospitality Studies – comprising the present Faculty of Commerce, and Hospitality and Tourism Studies of FIT.

“Each of these colleges would be headed by a Dean (or Director), who shall report to the Vice Chancellor of the University.”

Mr Bole said that a special feature of the University’s structure is the provision for an office of TVET.

“This is to ensure that technical training remains a core element in the FNU’s functioning.

“The model accepted is that TVET would permeate all streams of education and training at the University.

“This will provide for a multiple-entry and multiple-exit philosophy of education and training.

“Under this, students could enrol to do a basic technical course (like a certificate, or a trade certificate), then decide to enter the job market, or continue to obtain a diploma, or even to enter the job market and then later rejoin the university to obtain a diploma.

“Upon obtaining a diploma, the student may enter the job market, or decide to continue to obtain an advanced diploma, or join the workforce and rejoin the FNU later to obtain a degree.

“This provides for continuous prospects of upgrading of qualifications, as well as absorbing the ups and downs of the labour market through higher education and training.”

Mr Bole said that under the FNU Decree, a University Senate will be established to regulate the academic affairs of the University.

Mr Bole also said that once the Decree is gazetted, a commencement date of certain key sections of the Decree will be declared so as to enable the operation of the FNU without hitch from the 2010 academic year.