Port Vila, Vanuatu – Friday 13 February 2026: The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) is proud to welcome Dr Deewakarsingh Authelsingh as its new Director of Quality and Assurance – a role that places students, learning and national development at NUV’s very heart.
For Dr Authelsingh, joining NUV is more than a professional milestone. It is a chance to help shape the future of higher education in Vanuatu.
“I was drawn by NUV’s vision and its commitment to national development,” he says. “To be part of a young and ambitious University, and to contribute to student success, is both exciting and meaningful.”
Dr Authelsingh brings with him a rich and diverse background. His academic journey includes a Doctorate in Inclusive Education, an Executive MBA, and a Master in Educational Leadership and Management, alongside postgraduate qualifications in brand management and inclusive education. Professionally, his career has crossed continents and sectors – from working as a Technical Specialist at Hewlett Packard, to teaching at the secondary level, to rising from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer at the Mauritius Institute of Education.
He has also advised the Ministry of Education in Mauritius on curriculum and innovative teaching, led a national education reform, and most recently served as Director of the Special Educational Needs Authority. Along the way, he has collaborated with educators and institutions in Kenya, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, and India – experiences that have shaped his global outlook on learning.
Yet at NUV, his focus is firmly local and regional.
Dr Authelsingh explains, quality assurance at NUV is about making sure every student receives a meaningful, relevant, and supportive learning experience.
“It’s about constantly asking how we can do better – for our students, our staff, and our communities,” he says. “It’s about ensuring our programmes prepare graduates for real careers, real challenges, and real opportunities.”
In practical terms, this means keeping courses up to date with national and industry needs, supporting lecturers to grow their teaching skills, strengthening student services, and listening closely to feedback from students, employers, and partners. It also means using evidence – such as student performance and graduate outcomes – to guide improvement.
For students, the benefits are clear: engaging classes, recognised qualifications, stronger support systems, and better pathways into employment or further study.
“Students are at the centre of everything we do,” Dr Authelsingh emphasises. “They deserve programmes that matter, teachers who inspire, and qualifications that open doors.”
He is equally passionate about teamwork across the University. Academic and administrative staff, he says, are the backbone of NUV. From lecturers in classrooms to teams in admissions, finance, IT, and student services, everyone plays a role in shaping the student experience.
“Quality is not one person’s job,” he notes. “It belongs to all of us.”
This shared effort directly supports NUV’s mission and Vanuatu’s national development goals under Vanuatu 2030: The People’s Plan. By producing skilled, confident graduates, the University helps build the country’s human capital and contributes to a stronger, more sustainable future.
In his first year, Dr Authelsingh plans to review existing systems, strengthen engagement with students and partners, build staff capacity, and ensure all programmes are fully accredited. Above all, he hopes to nurture a university-wide culture of continuous improvement.
His message to the NUV community is simple and heartfelt.
“To our students: your success matters deeply to us. To our staff: I look forward to working alongside you to build something truly special. And to our partners: your collaboration is vital. Together, we can elevate NUV into a leading institution for Vanuatu and the Pacific.”
As NUV continues to grow, Dr Authelsingh’s arrival marks an important step forward -one rooted in inclusion, excellence, and a shared commitment to empowering the next generation of Ni-Vanuatu leaders.
