Vice Chancellor's Message for 2007

Your interest is welcome

Welcome to this overview of the University of Papua New Guinea. Your interest in our University is most welcome and very much appreciated. As the largest and most comprehensive University in Papua New Guinea we offer courses ranging from Medicine and Health Sciences, through Natural and Physical Sciences, to Law, Business, the Humanities and Arts. We are an institution committed to excellence in teaching and in an ever-increasing manner, to research and development. Our mission in life is very clearly defined: “...to be the premier University, making available quality education, research and service to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.” The mission is supported by a comprehensive Strategic Plan, upon which each of our Schools base its strategic operational plan. Consequently we have plotted a path for the future. Increasingly we are judging our performance in the context of achievable but challenging benchmarks, thinking more globally, establishing international relationships, and generally making the university an exciting academic place to be. To continually remind ourselves of our commitment to students, we have established a Student Charter, which outlines our responsibilities to our students, and their responsibilities to us. This helps us as we design new programs, and helps students to focus on the important elements of university study. Like all universities we have our troubles from time to time, but we are confronting these directly as part of our continuous improvement process. The University of Papua New Guinea is a much more diverse institution than is often realised. In addition to two substantial campuses at Taurama and Waigani, we have five Open Campuses located at Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Kokopo in East New Britain, Madang, Mt Hagen in Western Highlands, and the National Capital District, as well as eight other Provincial University Centres in Enga, Manus, Milne Bay, New Ireland, Simbu, West New Britain, Morobe and Oro. Franchise study centres have also been established in institutions in some centres. We expect to have a presence in every province in the near future. Flexible mode teaching represents a major element of our program as we now offer a Certificate in Tertiary and Community Studies (CTCS), enrichment, diploma and degree opportunities by distance education. These Open Campuses and Provincial Centres provide wonderful opportunities for those not able to attend UPNG in Port Moresby but who still want to undertake a University education. In this way we are truly “bringing education to the people.” Both major Campuses have significant residential complexes with provision for in excess of 3,600 students. At least one Open Campus provides residential accommodation. Thus our university is more than a place to learn. It is a total community; a community enlarged by the academic and general staff, most of whom also live on Campus with their families. Above all, however, the University of Papua New Guinea emphasises the importance of merit in everything it does. It is progressively increasing its entrance standards and demands high quality student performance. Expectations about academic performance predominate over all other matters. Even residential accommodation is assigned on the basis of academic performance, and for continuing students, on their Grade Point Average. If you want to become part of UPNG, you will need to understand and accept this emphasis on academic standards, and the consequences of not performing at your best. We hope that you will understand and accept that we are doing this in the interest of students, the University and the nation. We want our students to study together with other high quality students genuinely committed to higher education. We welcome your interest and invite your further inquiry and hope that you might join us later as one of the elite students of UPNG and the nation.

With best wishes,

R. A. Hynes
Vice Chancellor