The three-day Policy Development & Review Workshop for Higher Education Institutions in the Western Division concluded today with a powerful address by the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF), Mr. Steve Chand.
Mr. Chand highlighted the growing collaboration between HECF and the Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), acknowledging that while HECF and EQAP had not been closely connected in the past, progress is now being made in strengthening their relationship.
He thanked EQAP for supporting HECF in launching activities for this year and delivering capacity-building initiatives for Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).
Mr. Chand emphasized the importance of the workshop, noting that policy development remains an area that needs improvement across the sector. The workshop was designed to provide participants with up-to-date insights into legal requirements, emerging trends in policy-making, and practical tools to enhance their policy development processes.
He also addressed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in policy writing, explaining that while AI can assist with drafting, the human mind is irreplaceable for critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and contextual judgment.
In conclusion, Mr. Chand congratulated participants for completing the workshop and encouraged them to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues. He expressed gratitude to EQAP for their partnership and looked forward to future collaborative projects.
He also reminded attendees that this workshop would be extended to the Central Division from 3rd to 5th June and to the Northern Division from 16th to 18th September.
The workshop marked a significant step in the ongoing effort to improve policy development within Fiji’s higher education sector, with more initiatives planned for the future.
