Short-Term Adviser – SITESA Act Amendments Review and Policy Recommendation

Program Background

Pacific Australia Skills is a significant Australian investment which stands to make a major contribution to supporting social and economic growth in the region through strengthening the skills and training sector across Timor-Leste and the Pacific. Pacific Australia Skills builds on the achievements of prior Australian Government support for skills and training in Timor-Leste.

About DT Global Asia Pacific

At DT Global Asia Pacific, we aim to positively impact people’s lives through delivery excellence. As a leading implementing partner across Asia and the Pacific, we co-create locally led solutions in partnership with governments, communities, and stakeholders. We bring together talented teams and deep regional expertise to deliver initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, essential services, and resilient, secure communities. With over 1,500 staff, experts in 22+ countries and more than 60 years of development experience, we tackle complex community, national and transnational challenges — from governance and justice systems to climate resilience, infrastructure and social equity — with innovative thinking and a commitment to long-term impact.

For more information, please see www.dt-global.com

The Role
The purpose of the assignment is to engage a short-term adviser to review Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority Act 2017 (SITESA) current policy framework and regulatory instruments against the applicable provisions of the SITESA Act 2017 and proposed amendments to the Act, and to provide practical recommendations to strengthen SITESA’s role as a pure national qualifications and accreditation authority aligned with best practice in the Pacific region and comparable jurisdictions.

The Short-Term Adviser – SITESA Act Amendments Review and Policy Recommendation Adviser will report directly to the Skills Reform Manager and work closely with SITESA management, Pacific Australia Skills staff, and relevant stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Review SITESA’s current policy framework, including relevant policies, standards, gazettes in effect, procedures and regulatory instruments, against the objects, functions and regulatory provisions of the SITESA Act 2017.
• Assess the implications of the revised SITESA Act for SITESA’s regulatory role, statutory functions and policy framework.
• Identify policy and operational steps required for SITESA to meet its role as a national qualifications and accreditation authority with consideration to the policy goals of the qualifications framework. The work will review current quality standards, processes of accreditation, provider registration, auditing, reviews and offences to ensure alignment with the goals of the amendments to the Act.
• Provide advice on the recognition, treatment and quality assurance of foreign qualifications.
• Review the current approach to protected terms and recommend improvements or developments to the current system that will assure protection of the integrity of nationally recognised qualifications and regulated terminology.
• Benchmark SITESA’s regulatory role and instruments against good practice in the Pacific region and other comparable regions.
• Facilitate consultations with relevant stakeholders.
• Propose recommendations for necessary policy changes.
• This ToR may vary and change in future.

Selection Criteria

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Advanced expertise in qualifications frameworks, quality assurance, accreditation and tertiary and TVET provider regulation.
• Demonstrated experience advising national qualifications authorities, accreditation bodies or education regulators.
• Experience in Solomon Islands’ qualifications systems.
• Strong understanding of policy and legislative frameworks for qualifications recognition, including foreign qualifications and protected terms.
• Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation and communication skills.
• Experience in conducting policy review, stakeholder consultation and practical implementation-planning in a Pacific Island country or comparable setting.
• Understanding of institutional strengthening and public-sector reform processes.
• Understanding of and commitment to Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Child Protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), prevention of human trafficking, environmental protection, anti-corruption and other DFAT safeguarding policies.
• DT Global strongly encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including first nations, diverse SOGIESC and people with disabilities.
• People with lived experience of the regions in which Pacific Australia Skills operate are strongly encouraged to apply.

Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: https://tinyurl.com/ysj8zrkv