University of Honiara

The University of Honiara is a virtual liberal arts academic institution chartered to offer accredited undergraduate degree education completely online.

The Institution was founded in June, 2006 by a special panel of Educators attached to the Academic Board of the Caricom e-learning Group, who envisioned the need for a more liberalize, interactive and technologically innovative instructional education system, particularly for the people of the South Pacific islands.

After several stages of intense consultation, Honiara in the Solomon Islands was selected as the proposed Administrative Centre for the institution, hence the “University of Honiara – online”, was born.

The Institution is made up of three Virtual Faculties (Technology, Education, Business studies) and one adopted professional training school (The International Institute of Travel and Tourism), which offers courses in the areas of Aviation Safety and Hospitality.

Since its founding, the University of Honiara has registered a number of students in various disciplines to its faculties, and has since evolved into an institution of credible academic standards and stature, and a pillar of pride for the people of the Pacific Islands nations.

The online training technology employed by the University of Honiara was developed exclusively for the institution through consultation with Microsoft, AOL and Intel-Soft.

Its online training platform has been categorized as one of the most reliable and advanced instructional media platforms in the world, and is one of only fourteen institutions that have acquired it worldwide.

This state-of-the-art online training tool aided by an expanding team of accredited curriculum developers, trans-national online instructors and academic professionals has made the University of Honiara a key player in the delivery of quality and internationally acceptable education standards to the people of the South Pacific Islands and the rest of the world.

Organizational structure

Structurally, The University of Honiara is a relatively new institution that is still in its infant stage, and is gradually adopting itself to satisfy the needs of its growth and academic obligation to the public. Therefore, the institution currently operates on a mutating structure that periodically adjusts to the growth process.

In despite of its infantry, the Institution understands its legal and moral obligation to deliver an education to the public that satisfies both regulatory and acceptable standards in its management and academic structure.

In view of the aforesaid, the organizational structure of the University has been established with a view to perform the major functions, such as course design, development and preparation; production and distribution; student admission; evaluation and student record management; and other support services.

Each structural unit is classified as a Board, and is headed by a nominated Director in each division.

All boards are autonomous, but falls under the oversight of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, except the Examinations and Academic Boards.

The Academic Board set up by the University is responsible for course design, determining course content and structure, method of delivery, curriculum structure and approving of the respective training materials.

The Academic Board exercises overall academic supervision and control over the functioning of all faculties and lays down the academic policies of the University.

The Online Content Management Board oversees the interactive development, content production, online storage, standard checks, approval and effective online distribution of tutorial notes and supporting training materials.

The Student Accounts and Welfare Board supervises the online classroom schedules and distribution of notes to students after they have registered for various programs.

This body also ensures that students and the institution’s financial records are kept, control student accounts access, validate online accounts, approve student loans, collects payments, and addresses student welfare issues such as counseling, guidance and complaints.

The Student Records and Examinations Board sets entry requirements and deals with all matters pertaining to student registration, admission approvals, academic records, student records, examination scheduling, examination supervision, Evaluation of student performance and recommendation to the office of the Chancellor for certification of graduate students.

All matters of public relations, media and press conferences are supervised by the Office of the Chancellor whose office is mostly ceremonial, but holds supervisory powers over the Academic and Examinations Board, respectively.