The Fiji Higher Education Commission wishes to extend its appreciation to all stakeholder representatives who were part of the workshop on ‘Situational and Functional Analysis that was held at the Suva Peninsula Hotel last Friday ( 20/05/22).
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The Fiji Higher Education Commission is working to enhance the qualifications of higher education institutions.
FHEC Director, Doctor Rohit Kishore says with global factors like COVID-19 and climate change, the socio-economic circumstances have changed as well as the needs of the labour market.
He adds that from the higher education sector’s point of view, on the one hand, there is an oversupply of knowledge and skills, and on the other hand, there is a shortage of skills.
To help fix the imbalance, the FHEC Director highlighted that a workshop with stakeholders is the way forward as they work to create a toolkit to help develop and review National Qualifications.
“We have about 70 stakeholders from different sectors coming here, and we are reaching out to these people who are on the ground in the job market and working in the industry to tell us the kind of skills and knowledge that they need. We want to get it right. It’s not that we want to sit in the office and develop something; we are making an outreach to these people, the stakeholders.”
Dr Kishore says, together with consultants from Australia, the information from the workshop will be collated and developed into a toolkit.
“The standard-the toolkit as we say, will tell us how the new qualification should be developed and what the new qualification should have in terms of learning objectives and outcomes so that the skills that are required, the new, current and future skills that are required in the industry, we’ll fulfil.”
Dr Kishore confirms this will also increase the employability of young new graduates.
Source: FBC
Key stakeholders relevant to the labour market in Fiji met in a one-day workshop organised by the Fiji Higher Education Commission at the Suva Peninsula Hotel yesterday. The deliberations were around understanding the industry demands in terms of skills set. The main aim of the workshop is to produce a generic toolkit to be used by policymakers to ensure a clear relationship and connection between the industry and higher education institutions.
You have to realise your ‘being.” Understanding your ‘being’ helps you realise your purpose in life and the directions to take.” “Teaching is only effective if learning takes place”. “Start learning rather than being taught”. “The Culture of Reading in schools is highly challenged today with books turning electronic and the attitude of students in lacking the interest to read.”
These are part of the key messages given to teachers and students of MGM High School on Friday, 13/05/22 by Dr Rohit Kishore Director of the Fiji Higher Education Commission. Dr Kishore was Chief Guest at the school’s Prefect’s Investiture Ceremony and Girmit Day Celebration.
The National Certificate in Aged Care and Community Care (Level 3) is currently under review. The first meeting of the Industry Standards Advisory Committee (ISAC) for the review was held last week at the Fiji Higher Education Commission. Interested stakeholders can contact the Higher Education Commission Secretariat for further information.
The Fiji Higher Education Commission congratulates the Keshals Business Education Institute (KBEI) for another milestone in offering the National Certificate in Business (Administration & Technology) Level 3 online. The National Qualification (NQ) was launched at the KBEI in Suva yesterday. KBEI Director, Mrs Subnam Khan remarked that the institution is proud to be offering NQs. The FHEC was represented by Mrs Reshika Kumar ( NQ Implementation Officer) as guest speaker who provided a deeper insight into NQs.
A Career Counselling Day was organised by the Ratu Kadavulevu School for its students on Wednesday, 16 March 2022. The main objective was to get students to establish some sense of direction for their career and make sound choices at the secondary school level. The Fiji Higher Education Commission was represented by Mr Epi Rawalai and Mrs Vilimana Dreli as guest speakers.
The Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) is calling on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country to deliver the National Qualifications in Counselling that was recently approved by the Fiji Qualifications Council (FQC).
The two National Qualifications (NQs) include the National Certificate (NC) in Counselling Support (Level 4) and the National Diploma (ND) in Counselling (School-Based) (Level 5). The two NQs were developed by the Counselling Industry Standards Advisory Committee (ISAC) after ongoing and extensive consultations within the industry and various stakeholder institutions.
Chairperson of the Counselling ISAC, Selina Kuruleca said that the NQs have been a long time coming and will serve as a minimum standard for those currently working in the industry, as well as those intending to begin a career in the industry.
“It is an extremely important piece of approved qualifying standards that matches that of Australia and New Zealand and more importantly, is relevant to counselling practitioners and service providers in Fiji. The standards can be used across our other Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and as such is an important integral part of lifting our standards of practice, which will ultimately mean that we are able to serve our clientele more diligently, competently, ethically and within the context of our local situation. It is a very positive development and with the establishment of various counselling associations in Fiji, this will serve as a guide to them as well,” explained Ms Kuruleca
The NC in Counselling Support (Level 4) aims to prepare individuals for providing counselling support for paid or unpaid work at a beginning of competency. As a graduate of this qualification, one can work with limited autonomy under professional and managerial supervision. Individuals who wish to pursue this qualification should be able to demonstrate technical skills with literacy and numeracy relevant to counselling support or at least have 2 years of industry experience.
The ND in Counselling (School-Based) (Level 5) is developed for individuals who are seeking to be employed as a Counsellor in the field of social services. It also qualifies individuals to practice Counselling in schools covering a broad scope in the education sector from early childhood, primary, secondary, and higher education institutions in Fiji. Interested individuals for this qualification should have completed the NC in Counselling Support (Level 4) or have completed at least 2 years of industry experience.
The approval of the two NQs is a milestone for the FQC with the first qualifications to be approved virtually. The FHEC Interim Director, Mr Vijay Naidu applauded the FQC for this achievement. Mr Naidu pointed out that HEIs have a vital responsibility to train competent and qualified counsellors to serve our nation as the need for counselling services will continue to be a demand.
“Given the mental strain and psychological issues COVID-19 has brought amongst our people, having this qualification in Counselling is just timely,” added Mr Naidu.
Interested HEIs wishing to deliver any of the two NQs are to contact the FHEC for further information.
The Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) has advised all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country that the temporary suspension of ALL face-to-face education and training activities is still in effect and further extended for the next 14 days effective Monday, 26 April 2021.
The advice has been issued following the COVID-19 advisory announced by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr. James Fong on Sunday, 25th April 2021.
To ensure continuity of teaching and learning, the FHEC is encouraging institutions to use the virtual and online platforms as and where applicable. However, HEIs must ensure the following factors are taken into consideration:
Students’ safety is not compromised with non-essential movement to participate or access online learning resources;
Students are not unfairly disadvantaged because of limited accessibility to online learning resources; and
Students and staff safety should be of paramount interest and any decision taken should be made in consultation and in consideration of this.The FHEC also recommends the arrangement of counseling or other support services that students may access via email or telephone or virtually during this time to address any psychological related issues that students may be facing. HEIs are further urged to continue to promote the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ COVID-19 precautionary measures and guidelines.