University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)

Students Honor Sir Michael In Sports

The male students from Sepik took the initiative to set up the team. The aim behind the team is to let the name and legacy of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare live through sports at the university apart from the political arena.

This idea was to make Michael Somare Library a brand name and to unite everyone in sports just as he united us to be one people and one nation.

UPNG students plan awareness

This follows the recent launch of their Christmas awareness program at Club Regal in Port Moresby.

During the year, the students raised K18,000 to conduct awareness on social issues, including domestic violence, sorcery accusation related issues, sexual abuse, law and order, health and basic government services, welfare development and economic issues.

New laptops for UPNG’s business school

Due to COVID-19, student demand at UPNG for e-learning tools has increased and become a critical part of how courses are delivered remotely. This donation will play an important part in enabling SBPP students to engage with both UPNG and other professors and lecturers.

Dr Lawrence Sause, Deputy Executive Dean on Resources and Planning at SBPP, was especially thankful for EMPNG's support.

Concerns over K600 graduation fee

They say the UPNG Council should review the decision of charging the graduation fee.

Students and their sponsors say the K600 only adds to their financial burden of paying the exorbitant university fees of tuition, board and lodging.

However, vice chancellor Professor Frank Griffin clarified that the decision was made by the former administration under the leadership of Dr Nicholas Mann after the student unrest in 2016.

State-of-the-art library at UPNG

The new library is housed in UPNG’s new School of Business & Public Policy, which was constructed with support from the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership through the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct.

The library was ceremonially opened by UPNG Vice-Chancellor Professor Frank Griffin and Australian High Commission Minister Counsellor Benedict David.

David said the new library and School of Business will support UPNG to continue its proud tradition of producing graduates who are technically skilled and capable leaders.

Great experience despite NID delays

This week they completed the second ANU-UPNG summer school, run by the Development Policy Centre and the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.

Though it was a great experience, they almost did not make it, writes Dek Joe Sum.

The summer school is part of the ANU-UPNG partnership funded by the Australian government through the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct. The students take part in a five-week international program: an economics and public policy boot camp.

Twinning Project partnership extended

That partnership has now been extended to 2021.

The UPNG-JCU Twinning Partnership began in 2015 as a three-year project, and was aimed at building teaching capacity and supporting collaborative research in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the broader Asia Pacific Region.

“We’re excited to continue this partnership, with ongoing support from the Australian Government,” JCU project director Dr Jennifer Gabriel said.

Parent concerned over UPNG fee

John Unage, who has two teenagers that will be studying at the university this year, says he cannot afford the compulsory tuition fee announced by UPNG.

The UPNG Waigani’s tuition fee increased by more than 200 percent for 2018, from K2,939 to K7,500.

The Taurama Campus also increased its fees to over K9,000.

“I cannot afford this. This is too expensive,” he said.

“From K2,000 it has jumped up to K7,000. The O’Neill Government must revisit the free education policy. 

Denser than usual Waigani traffic

Cars are currently lined up from the Institute of Public Administration roundabout to the University of Papua New Guinea, towards Gerehu.

Due to the 62nd UPNG graduation, traffic around the main campus area is moving at a snail’s pace.

Loop PNG was on site to witness impatient motorists loudly honk at pedestrians and street sellers that are crowding – and have spilled over – the narrow footpath at the UPNG bus stop.

​NCD polls: UPNG students demand answers

Student voters have demanded the Presiding Officer to bring in the Returning Officer to explain to them why most of their names are not on the Electoral Roll.

Students say there about 5000 to 6000 registered student voters at the University of Papua New Guinea but only 1326 names are on the Electoral Roll.

From the 1326 names, about 200 are names of former students.

East Sepik student leader, Smith Wani, says some of the names on the updated electoral roll are names of students that voted in 2012 but have already left the school.