The Fiji National University (FNU) will resume classes from Monday 20 April 2020 via online mode. This will be week 9 for semester mode students and week 11 for trimester mode.
The decision was made during a Senior Management Group meeting (SMG) with the Fiji National University Students’ Association (FNUSA) in attendance.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor James Pounder said while students and staff will not be allowed on campus, our virtual doors are opening next week and students will be able to continue their studies and access teaching materials through Moodle. There will be no face to face classes until further advice. This includes all Technical College of Fiji (TCF) students as well.
1. Online Study
Our staff have been preparing for this transition remotely from their homes, and we have given it a lot of thought to ensure that this will not disadvantage any student because of the situation that they find themselves in.
The University has an agreement with Vodafone and Digicel, which allows its users to access the FNU website and Moodle platform free of charge. Similar arrangements are being looked into for students based in regional countries and information on this will be provided soon.
We are aware that while the vast majority of our student body has access to digital devices and connectivity, there are some students who might not have this access and these students are encouraged to contact their course coordinators immediately for further guidance.
For specific details on programme/units, students should please contact their Heads of Schools or Course Coordinators.
2. Registration
Students are also advised not to change their original registration unless advised.
3. Exams and Assessments
Due to the complex and dual-sector nature of the University, a decision on assessments and exams, which will provide maximum flexibility to benefit students who may have varying levels of difficulty, will be released soon in consultation with FNUSA.
“As the country’s national University, our main priority is to ensure that we are able to provide access to education to all our students, no matter the grim situation we find ourselves in and I want to assure all our students that we are fully committed to ensuring that the quality of the programme itself and its delivery is not compromised. Students can rest assured that anyone facing any major difficulty will be assisted and are encouraged to contact their College,” said Professor Pounder.
The Fiji National University urges everyone to take heed of instructions issued by relevant authorities and Governments regarding COVID-19 restrictions.
Professor Pounder thanked everyone for their support, cooperation and understanding during this difficult period.