University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Updated Its Website

The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) has recently updated its website. It has a fresh new outlook. It is part of the ongoing ICT Development the university is embarking on at the moment.
For the past Ten(10) the university's web presence has been lacking and this new outlook heralds a new direction and aspiration.
The as part of the ICT upgrade project, it has introduced Broadband Internet access to staff and students and last year completely the online Library System.
Although the site has limited information, it is surely going to improve as more content and links are added  and updated.
The site can be viewed from www.upng.ac.pg

International Training Institute (ITI) Accredited as Institute of Higher Learning.

The International Training Institute (ITI) has been awarded the Full Accreditation Certificate from the Office of Higher Education (OHE). This was after the institution has completed the second audit by OHE.
This means ITI has met the minimum standards required by government of PNG for higher institutions.

Currently ITI has campuses in Port Moresby, Lae, Kimbe, Kokop and Buka. It offers mainly Business and Computing courses. For more information is on its website below

Website: International Training Institute

Enga University Centre Will Offer University of Papua New Guinea Science Foundation Year Program in 2016

The Enga University Center of the University of Papua New Guinea will be the first UPNG Study center in the country  to offer Science Foundation Year Course in 2015 academic year. This was announced on Thursday 29th May this year (2014) when the Provincial Governor Grand Chief, Hon Governor Peter Ipatas signed the MOA with the UPNG School of Natural and Physical Sciences (SNPS) at the Waigani main campus.
During the signing, he presented a cheque of K500,000.00 to the University to prepare the Centre for the first intake of students to be enrolled in 2015. He highlighted that the province has plans to make the new Enga Provincial Hospital which is soon to be build to become a medical teaching hospital and will link up with the Enga School of Nursing which is also in the province. So in the near future, the provincial government can partner with UPNG Medical School to have a campus in the province.
The presentation was withnessed by UPNG staff from SNPS and UPNG Open College.

University of Goroka (UOG) Opens Distance and Flexible Learning Centre In Honiara-Solomon Islands

The Vice Chancellor of University of Goroka, Dr.Gairo Onagi led a high level delegation from the University to Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands to officially establish the University's Distance and Flexible Learning Centre. It is the first centre to be established by UOG outside of Papua New Guinea.

It will offer particularly programs in Education. Solomon Islands government has been sending its students for teacher education at UOG for the past years under various scholarships programs. This centre will give aspiring teachers flexibility and access to UOG programs. Particularly to those who cannot secure scholarships to study to come and study on campus.

The event also included the Graduation of Solomon Islands who have completed their programs on campus in Papua New Guinea last year. The students expressed their gratitude to the UOG administration's decision to award their certificates at home as it was costly to travel to PNG for the graduation.

The Centre was established by the invitation of the Solomon Islands government. Other universities in the Pacific Island nations that ODL centres include the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)  in Papua New Guinea and University of of the South Pacific (USP)  in the Republic Island of Fiji.

Solomon Islands does not have a university and it has just started is first university, Solomon Islands National University beginning of this year.

More information about three universities that have established ODL centers in Honiara can be found on their websites:

 University of Goroka,  University of Papua New Guinea and University of the South Pacific 

Open University of Papua New Guinea (PNGNOU) To Ease Demand On Institutions.

The Director General of of the Office of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology Prof.David Kavanamur said it will:
Ease the pressure Grade 12 School Leavers are putting on the existing limited number of higher learning institutions.
PNGOU was adopted from existing open colleges in institutions such as the University of Papua New Guinea and University of Technology.
Accommodate students  from the Port Moresby Adult Matriculation Studies and the Government run Flexible Open and Distance Education (FODE) who often miss out on selections by the tertiary institutions.
PNGNOU willl have is headquarters in Port Moresby and  with campuses opened in 89 districts and learning will be deployed through the use of  ICT.
The concept was brought up in 2013 and with projections of admitting its first intake in 2016.

Source: The National Newspaper, Friday 4th April 2014, page 22. www.thenational.com.pg