Vice Chancellor Leads by Example - Professor Nigel Healey Graduates with Second PhD
Fiji National University (FNU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Healey achieved yet another personal milestone in his illustrious academic career. He has earned his second PhD, from Nottingham Trent University in England.
Professor Healey who is wellknown for his advocacy of the importance of continued learning and upgrading of skills and knowledge managed to complete his PhD while managing his personal and professional life of running the country’s national university.
“It’s been a long journey and many hours spent on my laptop at the kitchen table at Suva Point, but it feels very satisfying,” Professor Healey said.
“The beauty of modern digital connectivity is that you can remain an active researcher wherever you are in the world.”
The title of the PhD is “Transnational education: oversexed, oversold and over there?”. The title is inspired by the phrase used by British civilians to describe US troops based there during World War II – “Oversexed, overpaid and over here”.
It is a PhD by Published Work. It comprises 11 research papers (totalling 90,000 words) on the phenomelished
non of transnational (cross-border) higher education which were published between 2008 and 2018, plus a 20,000-word introductory chapter demonstrating that the 11 papers constitute a single body of work which makes an original contribution to knowledge.
The PhD was awarded after minor corrections in November 2018 and the graduation ceremony was held at Nottingham Trent University on last Wednesday.
The graduation ceremony was extra special for the Healey family, as VC Healey graduated two days after his son, Benjamin, who gained a 2:1 honours degree in Law from the University of Sheffield.
His younger daughter, Nicola, also graduated from Nottingham Trent University in December 2017 with an MSc in Clinical Psychology.
“It’s always the dream of parents to see their sons and daughters graduate and it’s been very special to graduate in the same week as Benjamin and from the same university as Nicola 18 months ago,” Professor Healey commented. Professor Healey previously worked at Nottingham Trent University as the Head of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), prior to joining FNU in August 2016.
As the head of FNU, VC Healey said it is important that he not only lead the institution but ensure that his actions remain in tandem with the standards that are being implemented.
FNU Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Mohini Singh commended Vice-Chancellor Healey on this achievement, adding that the award speaks volumes of leading by example. Professor Singh said VC Healey’s award would certainly encourage other staff to follow in his footsteps.
“This is certainly a great achievement for VC Healey personally and for his family, as well as for the FNU family,” Professor Singh said. Source: Fiji National University
The PhD was awarded after minor corrections in November 2018 and the graduation ceremony was held at Nottingham Trent University on last Wednesday.