About Governance

FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2018 COUNCIL

The role of the Council is to provide policymaking leadership and development of long term strategies for the Fiji National University (FNU) to achieve the objectives of the University, and in doing so, to maintain control over its assets, and establish high standards of ethical behaviour, robust corporate governance and risk management practices and procedures. The Council shall ensure that Management meets the interests of shareholders and meet the expectations and needs of customers, employees, suppliers and local, regional and international communities as provided for under the enabling decree. The Council is collectively accountable for maintaining established precedents of corporate governance practices, and all members are responsible for complying with their deemed legal and fiduciary obligations and duty of care.

 

COUNCIL COMMITTEES

The Council committees are mandated to advise the Council on issues pertaining to the respective and specific areas handled by the Committees:

  • Financial Resources Committee is primarily responsible for considering, reviewing and advising the Council on policy and strategic matters as they relate to Financial Resources.
  • Human Resources Committee’s primary role is to advise and make recommendations to the Council on policy and strategic matters as they relate to Human Resources.
  • Physical & Virtual Resources Committee’s role is to advise and make recommendations to the Council on policy and strategic matters relating to physical resources, including its information and communications technology.
  • Corporate Governance and Strategic Planning Committee’s role is to advise the Council on matters relating to the University’s strategic directions, including short (Corporate Plan) to long term (Strategic Plan) planning for all aspects of the institution, and for ensuring the implementation of the Corporate Governance Policy.
  • The Audit & Risk Committee’s role is to advise the Council on systems of internal control and financial compliance, accurate external financial reporting, managing the relationships with the University’s external auditors. And ensuring legal compliances as they relate to financial affairs of the University

FINANCIAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The Committee is primarily responsible for considering, reviewing and advising the Council on the development and implementation of the University’s Budgetary Plan. More specifically, the Committee shall:

Make recommendations or report to the Council on the following:

  • annual operating and capital budget
  • annual audited financial statements
  • policies related to financial management

Monitor and report to the Council on:

  • the University’s financial performance against targets
  • development, review and implementation of financial policies and delegations
  • the status of University insurances
  • proposals for capital expenditure
  • all financial obligations and loans

 

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HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The primary role of the Committee is to advise and make recommendations to the Council on policy and strategic planning matters as they relate to Human Resources. In addition, the Committee shall:

  • Develop a framework for remuneration and conditions of service of staff other than those in senior management positions;
  • Develop adequate staff appraisal and staff development systems;
  • Monitor the appropriateness of staff salary and benefit plans to ensure they are consistent with sound financial management principles;
  • Give due regard to any relevant legal requirements and employer-employee relations conditions;
  • Keep under review rules for the conduct, suspension, dismissal or disciplining of staff and procedures for grievance and appeal.

 

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PHYSICAL & VIRTUAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The Committee’s role is to provide a policy framework for the governance of all the University’s physical resources including its information and communications technology.

To achieve this, the Committee shall:

  • Develop and recommend to the Council a physical resources management plan;
  • Plan to include priorities for capital and ICT development and maintenance;
  • Develop policy on the use of University sites and facilities to support the University’s objectives; and
  • Monitor the implementation of the policies on physical resources adopted by the Council and the Committee.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Committee’s key role is to advise the Council on matters relating to setting a strategic direction for the University through short to medium term planning for all aspects of the University.The Committee shall:

  • Consider and make recommendations on any matter of strategy and policy referred to it by the Council or its Executive Committee;
  • Monitor progress against the University’s Strategic Plan and Corporate Strategies;
  • Monitor wider developments in Fiji, the Pacific and the world with a view to ensuring that the University continues to benefit from such developments, and at worst, that the University is not unduly affected adversely by such developments.

 

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AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee is appointed by the Council and is accountable to the Council. This committee is assigned the oversight of the financial reporting and auditing process, and the auditor’s major dealings within the Council will be ‘through’ the Audit & Risk Committee.

Roles and Responsibilities

The main responsibility of the Audit Committee via delegated authority from the Council is to apply an effective system of internal control and compliance and accurate external financial reporting, fulfilling its legal obligations in that respect, and for managing the relationships with the University’s external auditors. KPMG and Ernst & Young are currently the Company’s external-external and external-internal auditors respectively. At least once a year, KPMG and E&Y must meet the Committee. The Audit Committee should carry out the following responsibilities:

  • Satisfy itself that the financial report is issued on a timely basis and fairly reflects the entity’s financial position and the result of its operations;
  • Make recommendations about accounting and disclosure policies and procedures;
  • Monitor and assess the Council’s inherent and control risk;
  • Assess the impact of non-audit services on audit independence;
  •  Assist in the co-ordination of internal and external audit activities;
  • Review the planning and scope of internal and external audit activities;
  • Ensure that problem areas and irregularities are given prompt and adequate attention and significant problems are resolved in a timely manner;
  • Review significant and unusual transactions including major period-end adjustments and related-party transactions;
  • Ensure that all significant audit recommendations have been properly implemented by management;
  • Ensure that the top management is made aware of all matters of concern which may require its attention, and
  • Recognise the possibility of management fraud and ensure that effective controls are established to safeguard corporate assets.

 

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NATIONAL TRAINING AND PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE – ADVISORY BOARD

The NTPC Board is an appointment under the Decree: Section 35A(3) of the FNU Decree as amended, provides: (3) The Council shall establish a Board of the National Centre that shall consider and advise the Council on industry training needs.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • The role of the Board is to advise the Council of the FNU on the overall function of the National Training and Productivity Centre according to the amended Decree of the FNU. The Board shall act as advisor to the Council on all policy matters of the NTPC.
  • The NTPC Board shall consider and advise the FNU Council on industry training needs.
  • The role of the Board is to advise the Council of the FNU on the overall function of the National Training and Productivity Centre according to the amended Decree of the FNU. The Board shall act as advisor to the Council on all policy matters of the NTPC.
  • The NTPC Board shall consider and advise the FNU Council on industry training needs.

Specifically, the Board shall advise the Council on:

  • the business and affairs of NTPC in the context of the functions of the NTPC;
  • whether the NTPC is meeting all industry training needs;
  • strategies and approaches to be considered to strengthen the operations of the NTPC;
  • the standards of training carried out at the NPTC;
  • the risk management/regulatory compliance of NTPC
  • ethical and corporate governance standard compliance of the NTPC;

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