Five Fiji National University (FNU) diploma programmes offered by the University’s College of Engineering, Science and Technology (CEST) have received international accreditation from Engineering New Zealand (ENZ).

Upon the request of FNU, the Fiji Institution of Engineers (FIE) invited Engineering New Zealand, which is responsible for IEA engineering accreditation in the Pacific, to organise and conduct the accreditation process.

The accredited programmes are the Diploma in Engineering (Civil), Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical), Diploma in Engineering (Electrical), Diploma in Engineering (Electronics, Telecommunications & Networking) and Diploma in Engineering (Electronics, Instrumentation & Control).

An 11-member committee, consisting of engineers from Australia, New Zealand and FIE, visited FNU in November last year to review the programme documents and contents, laboratory facilities, teaching staff, student and industry opinion, and the college and university leadership. Based on the report of the accreditation committee, ENZ ratified the programmes in March this year.

College Dean, Professor Tibor Pasinszki said the international accreditation highlighted that the programmes met established international quality standards.

“The global organisation managing recognition of engineering programmes worldwide is the International Engineering Alliance (IEA). IEA is responsible for establishing the three levels of engineering education, which is the Dublin Accord (engineering technician), Sydney Accord (engineering technologists) and Washington Accord (professional engineers),” Prof Pasinszki highlighted.

“Accreditation is voluntary for educational institutions with engineering programmes. However, graduates from accredited programmes are recognised by the governments of the IEA member countries to have met the required international quality standards to work at their level of recognition.”

“Accreditation of programmes is a guarantee for quality education and training at the specified level as per international standards, which is important for employers as it gives them a clear understanding of engineering tasks the graduates can and cannot do.”

“Quality training provides graduates with enhanced skills and knowledge and well-qualified and up-to-date engineers who have a positive impact on society.”

“We acknowledge the College’s support, external advisors from RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and the University as a whole for contributing to this significant achievement.”