The following article describes some of the hurdles the Solomon Islands
College of Higher Education faces in becoming a University.
Its perpetuity ("continued existence of the institution forever") for
example. Or community values are the permeating issue to establish a
university.This is somewhere Wiki-Educator and OER can somehow make a difference. Sean Linton Ph D Student Music Department Otago University ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Clive Moore <[email protected]> Date: 4 June 2011 15:15 Subject: Solomon Islands Information Network: Asylum seekers; and universities To: Clive Moore <[email protected]> *Dr Sikua: "University status cannot be achieved overnight" <http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/10990-dr-sikua-quniversity-status-cannot-be-achieved-overnightq> * Thursday, 02 June 2011 08:41 [image: E-mail]<http://www.solomonstarnews.com/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zb2xvbW9uc3Rhcm5ld3MuY29tL25ld3MvbmF0aW9uYWwvMTA5OTAtZHItc2lrdWEtcXVuaXZlcnNpdHktc3RhdHVzLWNhbm5vdC1iZS1hY2hpZXZlZC1vdmVybmlnaHRx>[image: Print]<http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/10990-dr-sikua-quniversity-status-cannot-be-achieved-overnightq?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=> Opposition Leader, Hon. Dr Derek Sikua has expressed support for the National Coalition for Reform and Advancement Government’s plan to transform SICHE into a national university however says the transformation process cannot be achieved overnight as reckoned by the Education Minister. Education Minister, Hon. Dick Ha’amori at an induction programme for the college’s councilors on Monday announced the NCRA Government’s plan for the transformation of SICHE into a university and the name change of the institution from a college to a university will be made by the end of the year. “Whilst the Opposition fully supports the idea of transforming SICHE into our national university, I have great reservations about “changing the name SICHE into a University by the end of this year” as announced by the Minister. “The name ‘SICHE’ is established by an Act of Parliament – the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education Act 1987 therefore any name-change needs to be cognizant of this fact,” Hon. Dr Sikua said. Furthermore, the Opposition Leader said the Minister for Education’s statement that “We do not need doctors and professors to begin with” is too simplistic and shows his lack of appreciation of what is involved in establishing a University. Hon. Dr Sikua said providing University-level education has some unique features and key amongst these are ensuring: · The proposed university standards that are comparable to standards of other providers regionally and internationally; · Recognizable qualifications especially in programs with national and international certifications and accreditations like accounting; · Academic staff whose positions reflect their abilities and qualifications; · A respectable research and publication output; · Perpetuity or the continued existence of the institution forever “We need to consider and keep the above features in mind when we talk about the development of tertiary education. Hence, the statement by the Minister for Education that “all these will fall in place as we move on but we need to start now because there is no such thing as waiting for the right time does not make sense. Furthermore, the Opposition Leader said that because this is a major reform it is also essential that the government create appropriate legislation and regulations to ensure that the institution can offer qualifications. “The government should now be working with the Attorney General’s Chambers to draft a Higher Education Bill to be tabled in Parliament as soon as possible. If passed by Parliament, the Higher Education Act will also guide the entry of new tertiary institution in the country and regulate all tertiary institutions. “Such regulation will provide credibility to the qualifications that would be offered by the new University, and any other tertiary institution that may be established in the future,” he said. Hon. Dr Sikua said the government must also provide for appropriate stakeholder participation so that any proposed University to be established gains widest ownership. “In a country like Solomon Islands, there should be minimum competition for students amongst various providers. Our people are hungry for tertiary education opportunities. He said the other important question is “What impact would this have on the reputation of the country in terms of it being recognized regionally and internationally as a provider of quality tertiary education? “A part of the regional and international reputation of a nation is established by its ability to provide training at higher education level for its human resource needs. “Quality tertiary education institutions boost this reputation significantly. However, a sub-quality provision would tarnish the reputation, and once tarnished, this would be difficult to rehabilitate,” the Opposition Leader said. Professor Clive Moore, C.S.I. 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