UOG Chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb

UOG council meeting underway

The council members, including UOG chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb, arrived in East Sepik Province yesterday to conduct the first council meeting in Maprik.

This meeting will see the setting of strategies and initiatives for the university’s academic year as well as Maprik district’s resource centre's plans.

The eight members, led by the chancellor and vice chancellor, conducted the meeting at around 10am today.

The outcome of the gathering is expected to be announced later in the afternoon.

University City to ease congestion

UOG vice-chancellor, Professor Musawe Sinebare, says the proposed University City is a long term plan for them.

He revealed that land has already been acquired and the university and a master plan will soon be developed.

However, funding will be a hindrance but the VC said partnering with developmental partners and businesses tax credit scheme is an option available.

UOG Chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb said 365 hectares at Manifo have already been acquired to build the proposed University City. Manifo is 12km outside of Goroka Town in Eastern Highlands Province.

UOG SRC constitution under review

The University Council decided to suspend the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the height of student unrests on campus in 2016 and review the SRC constitution.

As a decision of the Council, an internal committee comprising of staff and students was established to review the constitution.

UOG SRC constitution still suspended

“Council of the University have suspended the University SRC so we can review their constitution,” Sukwianomb said.

He said representation on the SRC will be one of the changes made to maintain national unity.

Sukwianomb said the new SRC constitution will see students must be nominated and selected from their respective schools.

“We learn a lot from the experience of June 2016 so now we are trying to build a mechanism were students will have to build a culture of national unity.”

    

UOG still waiting on Government’s commitment

He said the Government committed K8 million to UOG in 2016 but had not fulfilled its promise.    

“We are not saying it’s unfair, we know the government’s decision have been made and it’s a matter of implementation, the subject to availability of funds to money in the till,”     

“But in terms of grants, the grants of 2017 have yet to come. What we are talking about is the money promised by the national government for the three universities to commence classes for the later part of 2016.

UOG yet to get grants from Government

UOG vice-chancellor, Professor Musawe Sinebare and Chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb are in Port Moresby to follow up on the Government’s commitment.

Sukwianomb, flanked by UOG vice-chancellor told media, they will be meeting with Chief Secretary to Government this afternoon.

The UOG top management met with the Secretary to the Office of Higher Education yesterday.    

UOG to complete 2016 Academic year says Chancellor

“While the country is going through the challenges in these difficult times the Council of the University understood the contexts of these challenges and took on board creative and durable strategies and polices to hold down the University to operate successfully without any option to close the University; even the situation was critical,” UOG Chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb said.  

He also thanked the National Government, Office of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and  Planning Department for the release of K3 million to fund the operation of the academic year.

Counseling of students to continue at UOG

UOG completed its one week re-registration of students to continue its semester one programs with 96 percent of students already completing the formalities to continue their education.

UOG Chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb told Loop PNG this morning that at close of registration on Friday 3,225 students out of the university students’ population of 3, 500 have already re-registered.   

He added late re-registration will be accepted.

Sukwianomb said students counseling started a month ago with the assistance from churches.