Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education Professor Jito Vanualailai and Dr Rajni Chand. [Source: USP]

The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education, Professor Jito Vanualailai, has put to rest rumours regarding the appointment of Director for the Centre of Flexible Learning.

Concerns were being raised that the position was not advertised and has been taken on by Dr Rajni Chand.

In setting the record straight, Professor Vanualailai says the position was advertised internally and Dr Chand met all the requirements adding that she was the best-suited person for the job.

“Because it is just an Academic position and we normally just look at the internal expertise that we have. If we can get our own people why should we have to go and get overseas people? In any case, the Fiji Immigration will not allow it. If we don’t have people inside then, of course, we have to go outside, but in this case, we have more than enough expertise.”

Vanualailai adds that the former director Professor Som Naidu was over the retirement age and was not reconsidered for the post.

According to Vanualailai, there are stipulations that allow for  an Academic post and that of a Director to be advertised internally.

As stipulated in the USP Recruitment Advertising Guidelines,:
7.02.15 Where required under this policy, new or vacant positions will be advertised externally in the appropriate publications and electronic media.
7.02.16 All positions to be advertised by the University will also be circulated internally on the University Website.
7.02.17 The Immigration Department requires evidence of advertising in the local press, before a position may be offered to a person not holding local citizenship.

He adds that Dr Rajni Chand is to be the new Director of CFL for the next 3 years (2021-2023).