Higher Education Minister Francis Marus

Of the 23,692, a total of 9,999 students scored high GPAs of 2.3 and above.

“This is a massive increase of about 90 percent; in previous years only 5,000 students were admitted annually,” says Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology (DHERST) Minister, Francis Marus.

“Also, a total of 16,228 students qualified at a GPA of 1.6 and above, meaning that any of these students could easily be admitted, both domestically or into overseas universities and colleges, in an ideal environment where there was sufficient space.”

In a statement, Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) Minister, Francis Marus, says the scholarship comprises of 5,000 new intakes and 6,000 continuing students. “Government targeted programs include agriculture and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), also in line with government commitment to APEC policy priorities and PNG Vision 2050,” says the Minister.

“This is reflected in the 2017 awarding of the Tertiary Education Students’ Assistance Scheme (TESAS) Scholarship.

The university is currently under construction at Ialibu, Southern Highlands Province, on 75 hectares of land which is now being cleared before infrastructure can be built.

WPU project chairperson Fr Jan Czuba confirmed that they have negotiated with the landowners to acquire the 75 hectares of land.

2016 to 2018 will see the construction of students’ dormitories, library, students’ dining facilities, lecture buildings, teaching workshops, recreation facilities, administration building, WPU clinic, staff accommodation and staff recreation facilities.