The Fiji National University (FNU) has launched two online training programs to support students taking Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) and enhance the University’s research culture.
The FNU Higher Degrees by Research Supervisor Training Program provides support to supervisors on HDR supervision procedures in order to develop supervision capacity further.
The FNU Higher Degrees by Research (Doctoral) Training Program is designed to enhance the skills of HDR candidates. The program includes short course modules that are offered online throughout the year.
Officiating at the online launch, Vice-Chancellor Professor Toby Wilkinson said the occasion highlighted the University’s commitment towards research excellence.
“At FNU we value and recognise research, and will continue to build on our strengths in this important area of academic activity,” said Professor Wilkinson.
“I am particularly pleased that, despite the closure of FNU campuses due to the current restrictions, we were able to launch the two programs virtually. This is a sign of our ongoing commitment to support our students and staff, whatever the challenges.”
“One of the 4 pillars of FNU’s new 5-year Strategic Plan is Research with Real-World Impact. It is our responsibility, as a national university with a regional reach, to produce cost-effective, scalable solutions to the pressing challenges facing Fiji and the Pacific in the 21st century. To facilitate this, FNU has introduced incentive awards, research excellence awards, funding support, and mentoring schemes for researchers,” added VC Wilkinson.
The training programs are aligned to FNU’s Higher Degrees by Research that meet the Australian Qualification Framework 9 and 10, and Quality Assurance Agency (UK) standards, and are accredited by Fiji Higher Education Commission.
FNU’s outgoing Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Mohini Singh, explained that the FNU Higher Degrees by Research (Doctoral) Training Program will cover a wide range of research skills to support HDR candidates.
“The program provides training on research databases, tools for managing citations, different types of research design, methodologies and methods of data collection, analysis techniques, state of the art data analysis tools and dissemination of research findings,” said Professor Singh.
