Distinguished Academic Professor Narottam Bhindi Appointed Adjunct Professor in Strategic Leadership
Oct 3, 2006
Senior academic Dr. Narottam Bhindi, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Director of the Australian Centre for Educational Leadership at the University of Wollongong in Australia, has been appointed Adjunct Professor in Strategic Leadership at The University of Fiji.
Uni Fiji Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chandra said that through this appointment the University of Fiji was proud to be associated with Professor Bhindi, who has a distinguished academic career.
"We are greatly honoured that Professor Bhindi has accepted the position of Adjunct Professor. I wish to thank him for the deep interest he has shown in the work of our new University. I very much look forward to working closely with him to nurture and develop the University as a leading provider of higher education in Fiji," said Professor Chandra.
"I am certain that Professor Bhindi will play a significant role in the evolution of The University of Fiji", he added.
"As someone who comes from this part of the world, I welcome the opportunity once again to engage in the development and professional learning of school leaders in Fiji and the South Pacific. I feel honoured to be invited to do so" said Professor Bhindi.
Professor Bhindi is Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Administration, Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and Fellow of the Queensland Institute of Educational Administration. awards given by these premiere educational leadership bodies in recognition of his contribution to the teaching, development, research and propagation of educational leadership.
In 2006, Prof. Bhindi was awarded the prestigious national Nganakarrawa Award by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders.
According to the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, "This award is presented to those whose general excellence in educational administration and whose learning, experience, and contribution to ACEL have earned lasting respect and gratitude. The term Nganakarrawa (pronounced: nana-ga-raa-wa) refers to those who move about, all seeing, all knowing, knowledgeable and well regarded'
"This is position of Adjunct Professor would provide a useful institutional link between the University of Fiji and the University of Wollongong for the benefit of the students and indeed of the people of Fiji," said Professor Rajesh Chandra.
As part of his responsibilities as Adjunct Professor, Prof Bhindi will play a crucial role in
advising the Vice-Chancellor on issues relating to Strategic Management, Education Planning and in the proposed MA in Educational Leadership that the University will launch next year.
Prof. Narottam Bhindi, who has an outstanding reputation as an academic and administrator, was born in Fiji and educated in Wellington, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Bombay. His initial education was obtained at St Mary's, All Saints Anglican Schools, and Labasa College in Fiji. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Bombay University and Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. He obtained a Master of Educational Administration from the University of New England and his PhD from the University of Queensland.
Prof. Bhindi has a distinguished international career. Before joining Wollongong in July 2002, he served as the Head of School of Administrative, Adult and Higher Education Studies/School of Professional Development and Leadership at UNE for over six years.
At the University of Brunei he taught and coordinated the postgraduate program in Educational Management. For 17 years Narottam Bhindi worked at the University of the South Pacific and held positions as the Director of the Institute of Education, Fellow in Educational Administration, and Senior Assistant Registrar. He was the key figure in launching of the Diploma in Educational Administration at USP, which began as project in the Solomon Islands and was later made available as distance education courses throughout the South Pacific.
Prof. Bhindi is a proponent of Authentic Leadership, an area he has been researching with Professor Patrick Duignan of the Australian Catholic University. He has also led a research project on Spirituality in Workplace Leadership with team members Professor Rod Gerber and Dr Dan Riley.
Professor Bhindi has served as Visiting Professor to the Indian Railways Staff College and led seminars in the Management Development Programs for senior executives. He was also the Director of the International Executive Development Program, which trained senior public sector executives from Asia, South-east Asia and the Pacific.
Prof. Bhindi's long and varied international career together with his first-hand experience of twenty cultures in the Pacific-Asian region have given him a clear perspective and deep appreciation of cross cultural influences on leadership at different workplaces, especially in education, management and human dynamics.
Prof. Bhindi is fluent in seven languages, including the Solomon Islands Pijin and Bislama of Vanuatu.
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