PNG uni opens centre in Mala

PNG uni opens centre in Mala
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
THE University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Open College has opened up its first sub-centre in Malaita Province.

Malaita Provincial executive warmly welcomed the establishment, which will operate from Aligegeo Provincial School near Auki.

Classes there will be conducted starting in the second semester of this year.

The principal of this school will now help to coordinate the centre while his teaching staff with first degrees in different subject specialities such as in English and mathematics will take students for tutorials, a statement from the university said.

This new sub-centre was an extension of the universitys campus in Honiara, located within the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE).

This campus, headed by Hugo Kop as Regional Director, was opened last year.

Mr Kop is the UPNGs former Hagen Open Campus Director.

The two university programs on offer through the distance mode are the Certificate in Tertiary and Community Studies (CTCs) and the Diploma and Degree programs.

The CTCs program is offered to Form 4, 5 and 6 school leavers while the diploma and degree program is for those who have completed forms 6 and 7 and have met university entry requirements.

The diploma and degree programs on offer are the Diploma in Accounting, Diploma in Business Management, Bachelors in Accounting, Bachelors in Business Management, Public Policy and Management, Bachelors in Arts, Bachelors in Arts Education, and Bachelors in Science (Foundation year only).

The university said the student enrolment in the second semester has increased to 400 in the CTCs programme and close to 100 in the diploma and degree programs.

Lecturers from SICHE have been engaged in taking tutorial sessions after working hours and over the weekends.

In Malaita, many parents, leaders, public servants, and teachers reportedly welcomed the establishment of the sub-centre saying that now their children will have the opportunity to continue their studies back in the province.

Public servants and teachers with certificates and diplomas wanting to do professional programmes in management and education will also have the opportunity to enrol and attend organised tutorials at the sub centre.

Establishing provincial sub centres is one of UPNG Honiara open campuss strategic moves and we will continue to establish more sub centres in respective provinces in the semesters and years to come.

The campus is living up to The University of Papua New Guineas mission in Taking Quality University Education to the People in the region, the statement said.