Atenisi University
Encyclopedia
ʻAtenisi University is the only university in Tonga
and it was established in August 1975 by Professor Futa Helu
. It is part of the [[ʻAtenisi Institute]].
ʻAtenisi University is unique in being the only privately founded university in the Pacific, and therefore autonomous from any church or government. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that the university can freely train critical thought, rather than compel students to conform to bureaucratic obedience or religious dogma. The disadvantage is that the university rarely receives funding from either of the aforementioned sources, which has usually condemned it to an austere budget solely supported by modest tuition fees.
Because the university regards method of thought to be its pedagogical priority, philosophy has always been considered its most important course; facility with the English language and appreciation of English literature remains a second key objective. In addition, the university continues to offer core courses in the natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Because of its reputation for rigour, most ʻAtenisi University students have always found it relatively easy to obtain scholarships to graduate schools in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S.A.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and it was established in August 1975 by Professor Futa Helu
Futa Helu
Futa Helu was a Tongan philosopher, historian, and educator. He studied philosophy under the Australian empiricist John Anderson and in 1963 launched an educational institute named Atenisi...
. It is part of the [[ʻAtenisi Institute]].
ʻAtenisi University is unique in being the only privately founded university in the Pacific, and therefore autonomous from any church or government. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that the university can freely train critical thought, rather than compel students to conform to bureaucratic obedience or religious dogma. The disadvantage is that the university rarely receives funding from either of the aforementioned sources, which has usually condemned it to an austere budget solely supported by modest tuition fees.
Because the university regards method of thought to be its pedagogical priority, philosophy has always been considered its most important course; facility with the English language and appreciation of English literature remains a second key objective. In addition, the university continues to offer core courses in the natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Because of its reputation for rigour, most ʻAtenisi University students have always found it relatively easy to obtain scholarships to graduate schools in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S.A.