Assignment 1. Summary
As I embark on this new journey, I am filled with a sense of hope and optimism for the
future. The road ahead is filled with challenges, but deep in my heart, I know that with your
support we can achieve a lot to drive the country towards the 22nd Century. These are a
whole set of liberal values that give the organization the latitude to be more innovative, to
support the graduation of Solomon Islands from being a Least Development Country through
applied research and science-based policy analysis and advice. We set sail on this journey
against the backdrop of a tight financial situation which is cold comfort at a time when the
University needs to grow by investing in Staff, its assets, programmed, and facilities.
The future growth of the University is going to hinge on the development of strategic privatepublic partnerships with industry, donors, government ministries, non-government
organizations, overseas research institutions, communities, and the alumni. This will require
innovative and fresh thinking with a view to pursuing new business models and approaches to
expand the University's revenue sources. I have taken up this position with no vested interest,
except the good of the University, its staff and students and the future wellbeing and welfare
of the country. We confront myriad of issues that impact on the sustainable development of
the country which is severely impacting on the economic and social welfare of our people.
I sincerely believe the University has a critical role to play in helping the people of the
country live better lives, to uplift their social and economic wellbeing, and help grow the
economy, and in producing well rounded graduates instilled with values in ethics, leadership
and good governance who possess quality language and critical thinking abilities. The
University will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. This is indeed a milestone in the
history of SINU. It is well to undertake an independent review of SINU’s performance and
programs after 10 years as a stock take to inform future strategic directors of SINU for the
next 10 to 20 years.
This review is necessary to also inform management of weaknesses, strengths, and
opportunities for the University. Hopefully, this will inform management, donors,
government, and other stakeholders what areas of the University’s performance and programs
can be improved and strengthened. My wish for the University in the next 5 to 10 years, is for
SINU graduates to have global employability skills that are recognized internationally so that
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our nurses, teachers, accountants, environmentalist, agriculturists etc. who graduate from
SINU can get jobs in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Canada and
Asia. My fervent hope is that in 5 to 10 years, at least 5 SINU programs are delivered jointly
with USP, Australia and New Zealand Universities This will require close collaboration with
Industry, and international universities.
There is no doubt that the future will be in smart technology and investments in a knowledgebased economy will be required to meet the challenges of the future. Within the next 2 to 3
years, the University’s enrolment, financial and governance systems should be operating
under a fool proof wholly integrated automated digitized system to allow for efficient audits
to be done on time as required under the SINU Act, effective traceability of goods and
purchases to strengthen procurement, and assure donors the confidence of SINU’s financial
and governance systems. Investments in these systems will be necessary to give donors the
confidence in the University programs to ensure the future thought leaders of the country
have global employability skills. This will require improvements in English language and
communication skills, and thus will lead to reforms to ensure future thought leaders admitted
to the programs meet minimum pre-entry level English language and communication skills
before they can be admitted to the University programs.
These reforms are aimed at improving the quality of the programs and graduates to ensure
SINU qualifications are respected and recognized in very much the same way that the
Honiara Technical Institute had international students because its courses were internationally
recognized, and SICHE had accreditation for its agriculture, environmental studies, trade and
accounting programs. It is my sincere hope that in the next 5 to 10 years, that all SINU TVet
and Trade Programs are fully accredited by APTC and Queensland/NSW TAFE operating
under a more autonomous administrative and financial structure to SINU to achieve greater
efficiencies and efficacy. The aim is to increase labour mobility to Australia and New
Zealand of skilled Solomon Islanders to achieve greater integration with Australia and New
Zealand’s economies and grow Solomon Islands overseas diaspora as part of Solomon
Islands future economic growth platform. The Maritime Academy should have greater
autonomy and oversight by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority, Ministry of
Infrastructure and Development, Shipping Industry, IMO, and Ports Authority with strategic
partnerships with the British Merchant Shipping Authority and major shipping line with a
view to training between 50 to 100 seafarers a year to work on overseas merchant, and
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fishing boats.
Also, my fervent hope and wish is that in the next 5 to 10 years, the SINU Bachelor of
Nursing Program is jointly offered with an Australian University, working with the National
Referral Hospital as a University Hospital jointly with a University Hospital in Australia. The
days of mass production of goods are probably over, and the future will be in the
development of small, niche products that will require smart thinking and technologies. In
this regard, in the future, the outlook for SINU will be to collaborate with stakeholders to
build its Research and Development capability to make SINU an Incubation Hub for the
development of super foods, labelling, seafood products, and Apps that can contribute to
telemedicine. It is my wish that in 2 to 3 years, depending on the interest of donors, and the
strength of the University’s governance and financial systems, the entire campus will be
connected to Wi-Fi.
Hopefully, Wi-Fi access will also be extended to the homes of Staff so that they can access
their work from home, send lessons from home, and have more flexi working hours that will
allow them to also do their research. Increasing the internet capacity of the University, will
also underpin the delivery of online programs, and enhance the delivery of degree programs
through Distance and Flexible Learning across the country. In keeping with my strong
conviction on decentralization, I would like to see in 5 to 10 years, SINU campuses in the
provinces, These should not just be centers where programs are delivered and coordinated
through a strengthened Distance and Flexible Learning Department, but they must be
accompanied by investments in integrated development programs in fisheries, forestry and
agriculture to enhance the social and economic wellbeing of the communities in those areas.
In framing the philosophical approach to SINU’s focus for the future thought leaders and in
ensuring those who graduate from SINU do so with global employability skills, it is my
vision that the development trajectory of SINU’s approach to sustainable development will be
around the ideals of «green growth» and «blue economy».
What this will entail in practical terms is to focus of SINU’s programs and teachings on
sustainable development. Thus, those doing trade courses and other practical courses that
relate to the environment will have to have an appreciation for environmental science and the
promotion of nature based solutions so that future thought leaders will not only learn about
how they can build a house, bridge or drains, but also how, instead of cutting down trees to
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build a house, they can think about how they can build around the tree, and instill nature
based solutions to their work. Also, in keeping with the vision to ensure that the next
generation of thought leaders are well rounded in their understanding of society and become
critical thinkers, it is envisioned that all graduates from SINU are given a wholesome
approach and outlook to life so that in addition to their core units, they are taught ethics,
leadership, and good governance as a prerequisite to graduating.
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