THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has launched its five years strategic plan (2016-2020) to try and achieve quality and excellence education.
Minister of Education and Human Resources, Moffat Fugui, who launched the plan, said university education and learning do product changes.
Fugui said these changes include the Solomon Islanders can contribute positively to the social, economic, and spiritual development of our nation.
“However, the success of these changes depends on the political, economic and cultural context of our University.
“The underlying reasons for having a National University in our context are varied,” he said.
Minister Fugui said many countries take great pride in having their own National University.
“To all of us, SINU is a symbol of our National Unity and identity,” he said.
“Having a university is considered a natural progression and culmination of our education system.
“A complete education system has primary, secondary and tertiary components,” he said.
The Education Minister said without SINU, the tertiary component of our educational system would not be complete.
“We should all be proud that we do now have a complete education system in the country.
“There are real benefits we can reap from a National University. For example, our National University has increased access to University education for a growing number of young Solomon Islanders,” he added.
Vice Chancellor, Dr Glynn Galo said the Strategic Plan 2016-2020 was developed, with guidance of their International Consultant, Professor Nita Temmerman, in consultation with their internal and external stakeholders.
Dr Galo said the strategic plan captures the local, regional and international trends and emerging issues in the Solomon Islands for the provision of higher education.
“The SINU Strategic Plan 2016-2020 clearly defines the Vision, Mission and Core values that our national university will pursue in the next five years,” he said.
“The University will focus on six key strategic goals namely academic programmes, teaching and learning, staff and staffing, research and scholarship, resources and infrastructures and financial sustainability,” he said.
Dr Galo said under each strategic goal there are a series of priorities and the implementation of these will continue to gradually transforming their national university into a centre of excellence in higher education through teaching, learning and applied research, community and industry outreach activity and consultancy.
The National University was established through the SINU Act 2012.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
