College of Humanities, Education and Law Associate Professor, and Associate Dean Learning & Teaching, Dr Lavinia Tiko.
The Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Humanities, Education and Law (CHEL) is proud to announce the early success of its Doctor of Education (EdD) programme.
This programme, which is under the leadership of CHEL’s Associate Dean Research, Professor Govinda Ishwar Lingam, has roped in a solid number of offshore students from Vanuatu, including Fiji.
Soon, the programme will expand its outreach to other regional countries.
Launched only last year, the EdD programme has already demonstrated significant regional impact.
CHEL’s Associate Professor, and Associate Dean Learning & Teaching, Dr Lavinia Tiko, said the programme has so far attracted 23 students from Vanuatu and approximately 37 students from Fiji, underscoring its growing reputation as a premier pathway for senior educators and educational leaders in the Pacific.
“Spearheading this transformative programme is Professor Govinda Ishwar Lingam, one of the Pacific’s most respected scholars in teacher education and educational leadership,” she said.
About Professor Lingam
Professor Lingam, who serves as the Coordinator of the EdD programme, brings decades of experience and regional influence to this prestigious role. He has served as Professor of Teacher Education and former Head of the School of Education at the University of the South Pacific, with an academic career that began in secondary school teaching before expanding into major leadership roles, including Senior Lecturer and later Head of School at the former Lautoka Teachers’ College, now a part of FNU.
She added that Professor Lingam’s extensive research contributions, spanning teacher education, educational leadership, assessment, and values-based education have been widely published in journals and scholarly books, establishing him as a leading researcher in the region.
FNU’s College of Humanities, Education and Law Associate Dean Research, Professor Govinda Ishwar Lingam (left) with the Dean, Professor Mesake Dakuidreketi.
His academic influence is further reflected in his co-authored work Developing School Leaders in the Pacific, which provides critical insights into leadership preparation and the challenges faced by school leaders in Pacific Island contexts.
His scholarly record is also evidenced by hundreds of citations across multiple publications, highlighting his impact and thought leadership in the field.
Beyond research, Professor Lingam has held key leadership positions that demonstrate his commitment to advancing education in the region. He has served as President of the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and as a member of both the USP Council and USP Senate, roles that underscore his standing as a respected regional academic leader.
Under Professor Lingam’s leadership, FNU’s EdD programme is rapidly establishing itself as a transformative space for educational innovation, grounded in Pacific epistemologies and responsive to contemporary educational challenges. The programme equips senior educators and policymakers with the skills, research expertise, and contextual understanding necessary to influence policy reforms, strengthen school systems, and contribute to evidence-based educational development across the Pacific.
CHEL’s Dean, Professor Mesake Dakuidreketi and FNU’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) acknowledged that the early success of the EdD programme reflected both the high demand for advanced research training in the region and the calibre of leadership provided by Professor Lingam.
“His vision for Pacific-led scholarship positions the Doctor of Education as an essential platform for shaping the future of education in Fiji and neighboring Pacific Island nations,” Dr Tiko added.
The university looks forward to the continued growth of this programme and its contributions to regional capacity-building, leadership development, and educational excellence.