Unitech-ENB Satellite Campus Initiative
The ENB Satellite Campus Awareness is an initiative being undertaken by the East New Britain Community in Lae. The initiative involves creating awareness and gauging support from all stakeholders on the need for an East New Britain Satellite Campus of The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) to be established in East New Britain.
Rationale
The main objective is to offer greater educational opportunity to eligible students to pursue university studies back in the Province at comparatively minimum costs.
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) Satellite Campus Program
Unitech Satellite Campus Program is based on four main pillars and offered to interested Provincial Governments who wish to give greater opportunity to eligible students in their provinces to pursue university studies after successful completion of grade 12 and meet university entrance requirements. A good number of eligible students usually miss out due to the fact that all universities can only cater for a certain number of intakes each year.
The four main pillars
1. Curriculum
Unitech no longer offer its diploma courses at the main campus. These diploma courses will be offered at the satellite campuses forming the core of the satellite campus curriculum.
Unitech Satellite Campus Program is based on four main pillars and offered to interested Provincial Governments who wish to give greater opportunity to eligible students in their provinces to pursue university studies after successful completion of grade 12 and meet university entrance requirements. A good number of eligible students usually miss out due to the fact that all universities can only cater for a certain number of intakes each year.
The four main pillars
1. Curriculum
Unitech no longer offer its diploma courses at the main campus. These diploma courses will be offered at the satellite campuses forming the core of the satellite campus curriculum.
2. Students
Eligible students who have completed Grade 12 and meet Unitech entry requirements but fail to get an offer due to quota requirements at PNG universities will have this opportunity to study at university at the satellite campus. These students should also receive tuition fees from the Provincial Governments or other sources similar to the current.
3. Qualified Academics
Unitech has qualified teaching staff who will do content delivery and assessment online but with some face to face contact mostly at the beginning of course commencement. Assessment will be conducted using Google Classroom. Google Classroom is currently in use by academic staff and students at Unitech.
4. Infrastructure
The location in the Province and infrastructure set and upkeep is the responsibility of the Provincial Government. Two important factors that must be carefully considered when selecting an appropriate location are accessibility and telecommunication.
In terms of sharing responsibilities Pillars 1 and 3 are the main responsibilities of Unitech while Pillars 2 and 4 are the responsibilities of the Provincial Governments.
Current Awareness
Initial awareness is being done by the ENB community in Lae. The East New Britain community in Lae includes Unitech students and staff, public servants, and the private sector. A team of representatives from these groups of ENB people have been holding meetings in an effort to gauge support from the Unitech Administration, East New Britain Provincial Government, and other stakeholders. The executive comprises the Chairman (Ismael K. Isikel), Secretary (Francis Kikile), Treasurer (Mrs Polin Kavanamur) and committee members comprising Brian Waongo, Bessie Mina, Rommie Mar, Erica Rennie, and Eileen Mararang.
The team now continues to hold meetings. On two separate occasions the team, including other ENB staff, met with PVC Admin Professor Kaul Gena and later with the Chairman of Satellite Campus Committee Dr Maquin Maino. Professor Gena briefed the team on the first satellite campus established in Simbu Province which starts classes in 2019. We certainly have learnt a few things from the Simbu Satellite campus which will help us to work towards our drive in facilitating the establishment of the East New Britain Satellite Campus. Dr Maino gave a presentation highlighting the satellite campus program especially the four main pillars and responsibilities. The four main pillars are: 1.Curriculum; 2. Clients (students); 3. Qualified Academics; and 4. Infrastructure. In terms of sharing responsibilities Pillars 1 and 3 are the main responsibilities of Unitech while Pillars 2 and 4 are the responsibilities of the Provincial Governments.
All diploma courses will be offered online in the satellite campus. In addition, and for clarification, the Unitech Satellite Campus program does not offer matriculation studies.
Undoubtedly the Satellite Campus will allow more eligible students to have the option of studying diploma courses back in the Province at comparatively minimum cost. A good number of eligible students usually miss out due to the fact that all universities can only cater for a certain number of intakes each year.
Equipped with this information and the big task of carrying out awareness, the group is now preparing to do fundraising to assist staff and students carry out awareness on the Satellite Campus program. The fund raising will take place in the middle of September, 2018. ENB Day in Lae will be used to conduct initial awareness and raise funds especially for awareness purposes for the ENB Satellite Campus.
Ismael K. Isikel
Chairman, Unitech-ENB Satellite Campus Initiative
Eligible students who have completed Grade 12 and meet Unitech entry requirements but fail to get an offer due to quota requirements at PNG universities will have this opportunity to study at university at the satellite campus. These students should also receive tuition fees from the Provincial Governments or other sources similar to the current.
3. Qualified Academics
Unitech has qualified teaching staff who will do content delivery and assessment online but with some face to face contact mostly at the beginning of course commencement. Assessment will be conducted using Google Classroom. Google Classroom is currently in use by academic staff and students at Unitech.
4. Infrastructure
The location in the Province and infrastructure set and upkeep is the responsibility of the Provincial Government. Two important factors that must be carefully considered when selecting an appropriate location are accessibility and telecommunication.
In terms of sharing responsibilities Pillars 1 and 3 are the main responsibilities of Unitech while Pillars 2 and 4 are the responsibilities of the Provincial Governments.
Current Awareness
Initial awareness is being done by the ENB community in Lae. The East New Britain community in Lae includes Unitech students and staff, public servants, and the private sector. A team of representatives from these groups of ENB people have been holding meetings in an effort to gauge support from the Unitech Administration, East New Britain Provincial Government, and other stakeholders. The executive comprises the Chairman (Ismael K. Isikel), Secretary (Francis Kikile), Treasurer (Mrs Polin Kavanamur) and committee members comprising Brian Waongo, Bessie Mina, Rommie Mar, Erica Rennie, and Eileen Mararang.
The team now continues to hold meetings. On two separate occasions the team, including other ENB staff, met with PVC Admin Professor Kaul Gena and later with the Chairman of Satellite Campus Committee Dr Maquin Maino. Professor Gena briefed the team on the first satellite campus established in Simbu Province which starts classes in 2019. We certainly have learnt a few things from the Simbu Satellite campus which will help us to work towards our drive in facilitating the establishment of the East New Britain Satellite Campus. Dr Maino gave a presentation highlighting the satellite campus program especially the four main pillars and responsibilities. The four main pillars are: 1.Curriculum; 2. Clients (students); 3. Qualified Academics; and 4. Infrastructure. In terms of sharing responsibilities Pillars 1 and 3 are the main responsibilities of Unitech while Pillars 2 and 4 are the responsibilities of the Provincial Governments.
All diploma courses will be offered online in the satellite campus. In addition, and for clarification, the Unitech Satellite Campus program does not offer matriculation studies.
Undoubtedly the Satellite Campus will allow more eligible students to have the option of studying diploma courses back in the Province at comparatively minimum cost. A good number of eligible students usually miss out due to the fact that all universities can only cater for a certain number of intakes each year.
Equipped with this information and the big task of carrying out awareness, the group is now preparing to do fundraising to assist staff and students carry out awareness on the Satellite Campus program. The fund raising will take place in the middle of September, 2018. ENB Day in Lae will be used to conduct initial awareness and raise funds especially for awareness purposes for the ENB Satellite Campus.
Ismael K. Isikel
Chairman, Unitech-ENB Satellite Campus Initiative
