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From Tony on 2019 ANU-UPNG summer school and PNG’s NID project
Hi Dek my institution is having similar issues. I have a young Loans Officer who will hopefully get to Sydney this month for some training (potentially his first time abroad) however it has taken an inordinate amount of time to get an NID card but now there is no-one available to sign the birth certificate. I am afraid he will miss a great opportunity.
From Colin Filer on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
Well this story has some way to run. Today's news (https://postcourier.com.pg/pm-sidelines-upng-interim-council-members-positions-now-open-dialogue/) is that PM O'Neill has dismissed the Interim Pro-Chancellor, Acting Vice-Chancellor, and all members of the Interim Council except for the Interim Chancellor, who must now be feeling rather lonely.
From Joseph Ubek on Shared value – a new and better way to enable private sector partnerships for development
Interesting piece!
From Peter Yau on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
If the termination process is a due one then it's ok. However, if it was done for a purpose of lucrative Gains then the protocol has to be vetted vigorously so that things are done in accordance to the Constitutional dictum as prescribed by and that must be consulted in parallel to the established by-laws.Importantly the students are the priority hence their learning must remain the priority.Students cannot be neglected this far without genuine reason.
From Dr. Albert Schram on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
Apart from the Uni collaboration "twinning projects" for AU$30+ million, over AU$100 was invested in new buildings on the UPNG campus, without the University being ready for it. All eggs were put in one basket. The political and financial risks were evident from the start.
By contrast the PNG University of Technology received next to nothing, although it was making great strides improving its academic quality (e.g. independent aptitude test for selection, internal quality audits, provision of campus wide broadband internet through O3B satellite system). In addition, the PNG University of Technology in 2017 became the first university to obtain an unqualified, clean financial audit from the Auditor General, one of the only a handful of PNG institutions to have achieved this.
From NorbertKandi on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
This article perfectly publicises the exact scenario of current situation. Suggestions on the likely outcomes and remedies would help shape the premier institution better.
From Ilivitalo Saneto on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
The Minister cannot just appoint people as he wishes. I gather the Minister's VC choice failed in all aspects of the recently concluded recruitment process. Is Sec for Higher Education in any way providing biased advice?
From Dr. Albert Schram on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
Excellent article and straight to the point.
Unfortunately, the PNG universities are de facto no longer independent, and now run Chinese-style directly by the government. As a consequence, they indeed no longer deserve any Australian support. Unfortunately, without autonomous universities and freedom of inquiry, and a free press, however, PNG democracy is doomed.
This PNG government however can make a case for the legality of its intervention. The Higher Education Act 2014 gives government extra-ordinary power to intervene. The accompanying regulation was never passed, however, and the government shirked back from amending the single University Acts, which still guarantee a degree of institutional autonomy necessary to protect academic freedom. In this legal limbo, the PNG government believes it can do what it wants.
The HE Act 2014, however, was passed in a highly irregular manner, and the mandatory regulation was never approved. It did not contain any of the approved policy recommendations contained in the 2010 Independent Review of the PNG University System, the Namaliu / Garnaut Report, which advocated a range of measures to improve academic quality for the students, and a sensible reform of the University Councils. It never mentioned the appointment of the Vice Chancellors, or abolishing the Student Representative Councils.
The shooting of hundreds of life rounds at protesting student on the UPNG campus on 8 June 2016, today exactly 1,000 days ago, was I am afraid an ominous sign of things to come. The Student Representative Councils at all public universities have been suspended, and the students' voice has been silenced.
Finally, it turns out I was the last Vice Chancellor regularly appointed by an independent Council, in the end just to be falsely accused, arrested and expelled from the country forever in a move orchestrated by this government. For good measure, the other foreign Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Warren at the University of Natural Resources and the Environment UNRE in Vudal was also threatened and expelled last year.
It is time now to wake up and see what the universities in PNG have become, and judge this PNG government by its actions, and not by its pious talk.
From Kevin Byrne on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
Hi Stephen many of us watch on dismay. I don’t know how much money is spent on uni to uni collaboration not only with ANU but JCU here in Cairns and frankly all for nought. You guys along with others need to make your views known every day of the week. It is instructive that this is an all too familiar tale been going on for years. Australian academics are making a pile out of consultancies around a basket case education sector. I like your stridency here. Aussie taxpayers played off a break again
From PNG Insight on The University of Papua New Guinea in crisis
Can't agree more with Prof Howes. PNG universities (UPNG included) need consistent collaborations with top Australian universities. ANU is a top university in the World. UPNG is lucky to have a good relationship with ANU.
The participation of the ANU-UPNG resident lecturers, PNG Update conference and research work that are examples of strong collaboration and the people behind these works should be supported and strengthened by all means.
From dominqiue Benzaken on Innovative ideas help Pacific SMEs transition from aid to trade
Interesting. I am working on innovative finance for the sustainable development of oceans and am interested to learn more about what Australia is doing in the Pacific region.
From sophie mackinnon on The political economy of the Solomon Islands oil spill