Diploma in Leadership, Governance and Human Rights

Would you like to gain a qualification from the University of the South Pacific (USP) that can further enhance your career?

Do you want to learn about leadership, governance and human rights?

This is a great study program for people working in, or aspiring to work in government or non-governmental organisations. People living and working anywhere in the Pacific region can study the Diploma without leaving home, because the Diploma is offered both on the Laucala Campus in Suva and by distance education.

The Diploma in Leadership, Governance and Human Rights program was launched at the start of 2013. It was developed by the Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in partnership with USP.

The programme is designed for people working or volunteering in roles with a community or social development focus. This means the Diploma will be ideal for:

staff of government departments that have a community role, for example, welfare, child protection, police or corrections,or a social development role such as youth affairs, women’s affairs, family welfare, social welfare, and so on;
staff of development agencies and regional organizations working in roles with a community development focus;
people working or volunteering in non-government organisations, faith-based organisations or community organisations that are devoted to supporting people in difficult circumstances and to building stronger communities; and
people living and working in remote or rural locations.

Admission Qualifications

The Diploma will be at the undergraduate level. It will be open to people in the region that have either:

passed a Form 7 exam; or
meet the University’s mature age admission requirements (23 years and over).

USP applies its mature age admission requirements to people aged 23 and over. It considers how much schooling they have done, whether they have at least three years of relevant work experience and whether they are likely to be able to succeed in the Diploma.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people study the Diploma part-time?

Yes. People will be able to study the Diploma part-time or full time. By studying part-time, people will be able to maintain their regular work or volunteering schedule.

Are scholarships available?

Yes, people who are admitted to the Diploma will be able to apply for scholarships. The scholarships will cover the cost of USP tuition fees and associated costs, but not living expenses. Students who are admitted to the Diploma but who do not receive scholarships may still apply for scholarships during the Diploma programme. See below for further details.

How long will the Diploma take?

It depends how many courses you do in a year. The course duration is 18 months full-time and up to six years part-time and depends on whether you do the course full time or part time.

What will the Diploma cover?

Students will gain knowledge, learn new skills and improve their career prospects. Graduates will be better able to communicate ideas, problem-solve, analyse arguments, research new topics, provide leadership, and contribute to effective development in their communities and organisations. Through their work in the Diploma, they will learn about

how to be effective leaders;
how governance works and why good governance is important for all organisations – small, medium and large;
human rights – what they are, where they come from, and why they are important;
ethics and why ethical behavior is important in professional and personal life;
how to conduct research and build a case for change;
how to communicate effectively; and
basic financial management to assist with reading accounts and developing budgets.

What courses make up the Diploma?

The twelve courses in the Diploma are:

DG100 Introduction to Leadership, Governance and Human Rights
DG101 Principles of Good Leadership and Governance
DG102 Laws, Legal Systems and Access to Justice
UU100 Communications and Information Literacy
UU114 English for Academic Purposes
AF100 Introduction to Accounting and Financial Management for the non-specialist
PS103 Research Methods in the Social Sciences 1
SW101 Social Policy: An Introduction or PL101 Politics of Development
UU200 Ethics and Governance
DG200 Human Rights at Local, National, Regional and International Levels
UU204 Pacific Worlds or another approved course
DG301 Work Placement / Practical Experience

Scholarship Information

Scholarships are funded by AusAID and will be awarded, on a competitive basis, to students interested in studying the Diploma. Scholarships will cover course tuition fees for all courses in the Diploma and associated costs, as long as recipients maintain good grades. The scholarship will not cover accommodation and living expenses.

Candidates applying for the above scholarship must:

• Meet USP academic entry requirements and

• Satisfy the following SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:

Be e a citizen of a USP member country.
Be able to demonstrate leadership qualities demonstrated through a history of employment, volunteer work, faith-based activity and/or sporting activity.
Have a strong record of community service, through employment and/or volunteer work, in an organization that has a community role or a social development focus, and being of good standing and having credibility within that organization.
Be able to communicate effectively in English and the person’s vernacular language.
Be unable to finance the Diploma without the support of a scholarship.
Preference will be given to persons from under-represented groups, such as women, minorities, remote island residents, rural residents and those with disabilities.
Not have completed a University qualification (degree, diploma or certificate). Persons who have completed a University qualification (such as a qualification in Foundation Studies or in Regional Continuing and Community Education) which falls outside normal University qualifications, will be eligible for scholarships.

Please note that preference will be given to persons from under-represented groups, such as women, minorities, remote island residents, rural residents and those with disabilities.

Please note also that students enrolled in the Diploma who do not have scholarships but who fulfill the above criteria can apply for scholarships during the Diploma program. To apply for a scholarship, an applicant will need to:

download a DLGHR Scholarship Application form and complete it,
provide two written references, one from an employer about the applicant’s work and/or volunteer record, and the second reference about the applicant’s character and community service (from a person other than a family member or relative), and
provide a curriculum vitae (CV).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

For all Diploma and Scholarship information, including the next deadline for applications, please email to: lghr@usp.ac.fj or send mail to:

Secretary

Diploma in Leadership, Governance and Human Rights

School of Government, Development and International Affairs.

Faculty of Business and Economics

The University of the South Pacific - Laucala Campus

SUVA, FIJI

OR CALL US AT:

Tel: (+679) 3231848

Fax:(+679) 323 1523

To apply to USP, please download the undergraduate application form and email or post the completed forms directly to:

Student Academic Services Office

The University of the South Pacific

Private Mail Bag

Laucala Bay Campus.

SUVA, FIJI.

For further information on applying to USP, you can email the Help Desk at helpdesk(at)student.usp.ac. You can also call (+679) 323 1444 or fax (+679) 323 1516.