Has the quality of learning increased in PNG universities. I am of the opinion that we have gone back a few paces, interms of facilities of course.

How about research output? Do we have a database to monitor research output? Seems that we are just a study site for many presitgious universities overseas, including cambridge university.

UPNG sadyly has not lived up to its reputation as the premier higher learning institution in the Pacific.

I also think we can not compare UPNG with Universities in more developed nations. It is true and UPNG has had its problems which I am sure all of you are aware of. I do not want to talk about these problems because they are well known. While pointing out the negatives that are affecting UPNG, lets not foreget there have been achievements there too, despite internal turmoil.

The sad thing in all that has been happening at UPNG is that all of PNG and overseas(Australia) do not know about the good things that are happening at UPNG.

I agree that there are many things that need a complete overhaul, from infrastructure to curriculum review, IT system and especially administration. But instead of focusing on the bad, I think it is also important to take note of the good that is happening, even if it is a micro and encourage those more.

The state of Universities is a tragic scene, break down of motivation and moral fabric of the university is even worse. Re: UOG and UPNG manangement issues etc..affecting the state of mind of the students and accademics.

Generally, there is too much politics at play in all universities that is fuelled by ego as a result of stagnancy. Research is inactive, consultancy is also inactive and most importantly mentoring is non-exsistant. These need to be addressed to revitalise the universites.

I could not agree more, anon.

But where does the clean up/build up process begin? I mean, I agree that all you mention defines what a university should be and the actual reputation of Universities are build on the factors you mentioned. But the way I see it, this will be long and difficult process.

It will definitely be a long tough journey for the Universities. Academia is a culture that requires a lot of nurturing and resources. A start would be to take more strigent measures and collaboration agreements when allowing foreign researchers into the country. i.e, for every foreign researcher, 1 M.Sc student must be attached under his or her suppervision. This is primarily on the human resource building aspect and acedemic continuity. On the adminstration aspect, it would be up to the government to be very serious and hence my comments are limited.

I agree, PNG has alot of talented academics who can do so much for the country but the resources are so outdated and limited. What happened to the PNG Government giving education priority?! Internet access, computers, good library book collection and well stocked departments can surely increase the rate of academic excellence. I really dont know where we are heading to these days.

To be fair, the goverment's hands are kind of tied down with cash. An alternative, probably the only viable one, is for Universities in PNG to establish collaborations with the Universities overseas and the goverment to actively participate in liasing. There has been talk, but so far not much has progressed so it is about time the administrators and departmental/school heads in Universities get some plans rolling instead of passing the buck every now and then.

ciao

Mate, the government does have the money. We are NOT poor, it is just the way we budget and use our money that is causing the problems. Some of the money are even pocketed by the damn ministers and it is very frustrating to see PNG going down that road.

So true, Zoii. I agree with you. The Ministers themselves should be blamed for all the corruptions taking place .They are the ones that hold the power to it and they are the ones that destroy it.

I do not think we lack money, however, money is the problem bluring the visions and insight of many good leaders. Leaders talk about the green revolution, and do not even fund the research institutions to develop high yield coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, etc. Green revolution is a typical case of the government's ignorance and lack of understanding of the importance of academic and reseach institutions. That is the very reason why Universities are suffering

tru dat!!

Universities cannot keep waiting for these rats(politicians and senior public servants) to come to their senses, they have got to be more proactive in seeking other alternatives to help themselves.

I agree that unis have to be proactive and to source funding. However, in the research world, tools is the most basic and fundamental neccessity. i.e, mass spectrometey, LIBS (laser induced Breakdown spectrometry), gamma and x-ray machine etc.. These are very expensive equipments, most donor funding assist when there is a counterpart fund to a project or reseach purpose. It is therefore unavoidable that PNG government be seen to fillful this purpose and allocate funding to universities.

rgds

Universities have money for the basic instruments, probably not enough for the ones you have mentioned but that is where collaborations would come in handy provided the study is scientifically worthwhile. Moreover, PNG universities should have a stronger relationship amongst themselves for the sharing of whatever little resources they have, because the way it looks nothing exists.

Don't get me wrong. Universities are definitely underfunded mainly because politicians are narrow-minded and ignorant.