Table Of ContentDOCUMENT RESUME
HE 030 498
ED 410 901
Network of Women in Higher Education in the Pacific
TITLE
(NetWHEP). Report of Meeting of September 28-October 1,
1996.
Network of Women in Higher Education in the Pacific, Suva
INSTITUTION
(Fiji).
ISBN-982-01-0308-8
ISBN
1996-00-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
90p.
Institute of Education, University of the South Pacific,
AVAILABLE FROM
P.O. Box 1168, Suva, Fiji ($10).
Proceedings (021)
Collected Works
PUB TYPE
MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Employment Level; Employment Opportunities; *Equal
DESCRIPTORS
Opportunities (Jobs); Females; Foreign Countries; *Higher
Education; *Labor Force Development; Management Development;
Organizations (Groups); Regional Cooperation; *Sex
Discrimination; Sex Fairness; Staff Development; Women
Administrators; Women Faculty; *Womens Education
*Network of Women in Higher Education in Pacific; *Pacific
IDENTIFIERS
Islands
ABSTRACT
This report of a meeting of the Network of Women in Higher
Education in the Pacific (NetWHEP) contains transcripts of major addresses, a
copy of the program, statistics and summary information relating to the
status of women in higher education for nine countries, and general
information about the NetWHEP organization. Included are: a transcript of the
Pacific Charter for Women Managers in Higher Education; a list of NetWHEP's
goals and objectives; an interim committee report; two transcripts, one of a
welcoming address by Esekia Solofa, and the other a transcript of the opening
address by Taufa Vakatale; two keynote addresses, "Towards a Balanced
Workforce," by Raewyn Holdsworth, and "A Woman's Place in Higher Education
Management," by Konai Helu-Thaman. Also included are nine country papers,
many of which contain data tables and charts, from the following nations: the
Cook Islands (Ani Piri); Fiji (Elenoa Gonelevu); Kiribati (Teima Onorio);
Niue (Janet Tasmania); the Solomon Islands (Nancy D. Kwalea); Tokelau (Tessa
Kirifi); Tonga (Jeffrey Taufa); Vanuatu (Hanson Mataskalkot); and Western
Samoa (Breda Tipi-Faitua). A final section provides information on the name,
goals, objectives, composition, structure, and activities of the Network. A
list of participants, by country, is appended.
(CH)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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wORK
WOM17.4,N liN HI[GE-F+M
JCATION 1INT 7ThEE PAC11 IC
(NetWEL:12)
Report of Meetin' of
11 October 19%
28 September
-
Hosted 'by the Uniiversiity of the South Pacific
Suva, Yiljfi
tar
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL
CENTER (ERIC)
HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
laihis document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
Cliff Benson
Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
University of the
----South Pacific
°
Points of view or opinions stated in this
TO THE EDUCATIONAL
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
USP Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Network of Women in Higher Education in the Pacific
(NetWHEP): report of meeting of 28 September
1 October 1996
[Suva, Fiji: Institute of Education, The University of the South
Pacific, 1996].
cm.
v.
ISBN 982-01-0308-8
1. Women college administrators
Congresses
Oceania
Congresses 3. Women in higher
2. Women executives
Oceania
1. The University of the South
education Congresses
Oceania
II. Title: NetWHEP
Institute of Education.
Pacific.
LB2341.8.03N47
376:65'0995
3
EGET,
F WOMEN
NETW
E UCATION IN THE PACIFIC
(NetW E )
of
eport of Meeti g
28 September - 1 October 1996
P citric in
Hosted by the University of the South
Suva, Fiji
4
Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks go to the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Institute of Education (10E)
of the University of the South Pacific for jointly funding this Meeting.
In addition, we
are grateful to Mr Hari Ram, Director of the Institute of Social and Administrative
Studies (ISAS) for providing the workshop venue.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Cliff Benson
1
Pacific Charter
2
NETWHEP Goal and Objectives
Report on Interim Committee's Activities
4
Elizabeth Reade-Fong
Programme
7
Welcome Address
9
Esekia Solofa
Opening Address
10
Honourable Taufa Vakatale
Keynote Address: Towards a Balanced
13
Work Force
Raewyn Holdsworth
Keynote Address: A Woman's Place in
24
Higher Education Management
Professor Konai Helu-Thaman
Country Papers
Cook Islands
35
Ani Piri
41
Fiji
Elenoa Gonelevu
44
Kiribati
Teima Onorio
48
Niue
Janet Tasmania
51
Solomon Islands
Nancy D. Kwalea
56
Tokelau
Tessa Kirifi
58
Tonga
Jeffrey Taufa
63
Vanuatu
Hanson Mataskalkot
65
Western Samoa
Breda Tipi-Faitua
70
Focus on the Network
Name, Goal and Objectives
72
Composition, Structure and Activities
75
Gender Issues Sensitisation Training Module
78
Participants
INTRODUCTION
milestone in the move
The following is a report on a meeting which represents a further
the Pacific region.
for greater gender balance in higher education management in
decisions of a second face to face
The report covers the major addresses, discussions and
While funding was extremely
meeting of Pacific women managers in higher education.
from outside Fiji,
it
is
limited and placed an unavoidable constraint on participation
gratifying to note that nine countries were represented at this meeting.
Commission member countries will
Eventually, however, it is hoped that all South Pacific
in the Pacific (NetWHEP), as
participate in the Network of Women in Higher Education
the group is now named.
Managers in Higher Education, a
This report includes the Pacific Charter for Women
the first meeting, the Pacific
revised version of the milestone document developed at
in June, 1994.
Workshop of Women Managers in Higher Education, held
between July 1994 and September
In addition, a useful review of the network's activities
Reade Fong.
1996 is provided by NetWHEP chairperson, Elizabeth
Commonwealth Higher
NetWHEP owes its origins to the Commonwealth Secretariat's
Secretariat in general,
Education Support Scheme (CHESS), and we are indebted to the
Pacific into this initiative.
and to Dr Jasbir Singh in particular, for bringing the
addresses by Esekia
Also in this report are very readable and very thought-provoking
Honourable Taufa
Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific,
Solofa,
Technology, Raewyn
Vakatale, Minister of Education, Women, Culture, Science and
Technology, in Fiji, and
Holdsworth, Associate Director (Academic), Fiji Institute of
Humanities of the University of the
Professor Konai Helu-Thaman, Head of the School of
South Pacific.
the University of the South
As is indicated in this report, the Institute of Education of
the Secretariat function for
Pacific has been awarded the honour of continuing to fulfil
albeit a minor one, in
NetWHEP. We look forward to continuing to play our part,
helping to achieve the goal and objectives of this Network.
Cliff Benson
DIRECTOR
January 1997
1
7
THE PACIFIC CHARTER FOR WOMEN MANAGERS
IN HIGHER EDUCATION*
The Charter is based on the principles of:
addressing the inequality in gender representation at management levels in higher
(i)
education institutions in the Pacific.
the need to safeguard, support, guide and affirm the aspirations of
(ii)
women in
higher education management in the Pacific.
(iii)
the need to adopt appropriate action to fully utilise the talent of Pacific
women.
The Charter
Pacific women are to be equitably represented at all levels of policy, decision-
1.
making and management in institutions of higher education in the Pacific.
The untapped pool of management talent of Pacific women within each country
2.
must be recognised, and appropriate action taken to fully utilise it.
Institutions of higher education in the Pacific must develop strategies to increase
3.
their pool of women eligible for management positions.
The learning and working environment is to be gender friendly, encouraging the
4.
use of gender neutral language.
Higher education institutions should recognise and promote actions needed for
5.
women to have equal access to, and participate in technical and vocational training
courses.
Whenever possible, higher education institutions in the Pacific are to
raise awareness of gender issues through curricula, staff induction and training
programmes, policies and practices, among other things.
Support services are to be provided, as much as possible, to allow Pacific women
6.
to participate in learning and working opportunities at any stage of their lives.
e.g.
appropriate accommodation
flexible working hours
creches
counselling services
mentors and role models
Pacific women's work shall be recognised, and rewarded equally with men both
7.
for appointments and promotions.
*Formally approved and adopted by the Council of the University of the South Pacific in Vila, Vanuatu, on
21 October 1996.
2
NetWHEP GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
Network of Women in Higher Education in the Pacific (NetWHEP)
Name:
To bring about gender equity in higher education management in the
Goal:
Pacific region.
Objectives:
To extend and enhance the links among women in managerial and supervisory
1.
roles in higher education institutions and those aspiring to such positions in other
educational institutions in the Pacific region.
To provide opportunities for women in managerial and supeivisory roles
2.
to
collaborate in activities which would enhance their productivity and effectiveness.
To strengthen training programmes aimed at creating awareness of the need for
3.
gender balance in the academic and management areas of higher education and
creating these where they do not exist.
for the sharing of
To foster cooperation among higher education institutions,
4.
communication and information technology and the expert knowledge of these held
by those within the network, which will enhance the work of women managers and
supervisors.
To provide women managers and those aspiring towards similar roles,
with
5.
opportunities for advanced and appropriate training and/or research in the area of
higher education management.
To help facilitate and/or improve prospects of participating institutions in securing
6.
funds for national and/or regional meetings within the objectives of NetWHEP.
To be a possible and/or alternative model for other women's groups to emulate
7.
and to offer activities which non-traditional sources of funding will be prepared to
support.
3
REPORT ON INTERIM COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES
Elizabeth Reade Fong
This is a brief report of the activities of the Interim Committee appointed at the Workshop
held in July 1994.
Background
The 1994 Pacific Workshop was funded by CHESS (The Commonwealth Higher
Education Support Scheme) and was attended by 26 women from the region
including Australia and New Zealand. A Regional Action Plan was drawn up at
this meeting and an Interim Committee formed to organise a meeting in 1995 at
which the network was to be formalised.
Fiji
The Interim Committee held eight meetings (two face to face with USP and
importance
members only and six satellite regional meetings) to discuss issues of
of activities in the
to the Network and especially to be able to inform members
member countries.
(2),
The Interim Committee was made up of a core USP membership (6); Fiji
Meeting
Vanuatu (1), Tonga (1), Western Samoa (2), Solomon Islands (2).
attendance varied also depending on the availability of the satellite connections to
the region from the USP.
regional
Due to a number of factors, the Committee was unable to organise a
At the meeting in August this year, following
meeting any earlier than 1996.
meeting
consultations with members, the Committee decided that the regional
formalised, as time
needed to take place in September if the Network was to be
The change from October was necessitated
seemed to be getting the better of us.
by the clash with the USP Council Meeting in Vanuatu.
The focus of the Interim Committee was on
higher
`women and men concerned about the promotion of gender equity in
(Report of the Pacific Workshop for Women
education management.'
Managers 1994:13)
Activities
Papua New
Following the 1994 Workshop, a similar Workshop was held in
1.
in Cape Town,
Guinea in 1995 and was attended by Ruby Va'a; a 1996 Workshop
who was also a
South Africa was attended by Professor Konai Helu-Thaman,
Resource Person for this Workshop.
Cliff Benson, is to
The Institute of Education of the USP, under the direction of
2.
the Network.
be commended for its role in coordinating the Interim Activities of
4
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