Responsibility for education in New Caledonia has been largely devolved to local communes and provinces in the territory. However, the Government of New Caledonia exercises overarching control through a number of supervisory agencies, including the Direction de l'Enseignement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (DENC).  In addition, the Vice Rectorat represents the Ministre de l'Éducation nationale in New Caledonia. The UNC itself falls under the responsibility of the French Ministère de l'enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche.

a)    International regulatory and policy frameworks

Higher education in New Caledonia is under the aegis of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). Membership of the Association is open to quality assurance agencies in the signatory states of the Bologna Declaration.

Education for All (EFA)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

United Nations Literacy Decade

UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)

b)    Regional agreements and policy

Pacific Islands Forum Basic Education Action Plan (FBEAP)

Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education (PRIDE) Project

Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework

Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) 2009-2015

The Pacific Plan (the Pacific Plan Task Force is managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General)

c)     National regulations and policy

New Caledonia is legally part of metropolitan France. As such the administration of education in the territory is determined by the Education Code of the French Republic. Specific provisions of the Code relate to the delivery of education in New Caledonia and the role of the Vice-Rectorat.

d)    State/District regulations and policy

None identified.

e)    University policies

The UNC is currently a small teaching university. The future of the institution is likely to be quite different. UNC is intended to become a larger institution with an expanded research role, serving the French overseas territories in the South Pacific. The UNC aims to increase its participation in regional scientific cooperation, as well as its appeal to overseas students. As part of the move to greater autonomy, the UNC is in the process of establishing a research centre in higher education. The proposed Pôle de Recherche en d’Enseignement Supérieur (PRES) will enable the UNC to better coordinate its research activities, including its masters and doctoral level programs.