The University of Goroka intends to improve its overal ranking performance both academically and professionally.
As a testament, the University celebrated nine milestone events last week Friday starting at the Mark Solon Auditorium and Finishing at the staff Housing area in "down under".
The first important event was the launching of the UOG Academic Audit Reports; Academic Restructure Plan 2024-2027; Strategic implementation Action Plans(SIAP) 2024 and the Annual Work Plans (AWP) 2024.
The academic audit reform report is a report to address the government education reforms; the SIAP and the AWP are roadmaps to achieving the University's strategic Plan 2023-2027; and the academic Restructure Plan addresses the Go-PNG education reforms that are to be on par with trending national and international practices.
The recent reforms are to improve their teacher education programmes and to provide qualified competent teachers.
With UOG Chancellor Joe Wemin, officiating at the ceremony in the absence of Goroka MP, Aiye Tambua, when cutting the ribbon for all the ceremony, said that, "UOG had an attrition rate of 69% and ranked third last in the university ranking in PNG and as such his council tasked the management to challenge themselves and come up with these four books as a road map to achieve quality".
Some notable changes according to the academic restructure for 2025 will be
Decreasing number of courses from seven to only four /semester
Adopting the 3+1 model( three year content and one year teaching pedagogy), geared towards the school of excellence.
Produce program specification documents for all courses.
Produce school handbooks, program handbooks and course modules containin seven units per course.
Develop new relevant academic policies
Looking to getting UOG international accreditation.
UOG will be offering double majors in 2025
Confirmation for DPM approval for new salary structure and newly approved positions raising staff ceiling from 500 to 1200 teaching positions.
According to the Vice Chancellor Dr. Teng Waninga, the restructure, initiated by Mr. John Rombo, (Senior Lecturer and HOD Special and Inclusive Education), was part of the DHERST audit recommendations of last year.
He added that the academic changes were in consultation with the international scholars from abroad.
"Despite negative criticisms, we have been resilient. The old UOG is now a 'new" reformed university. The challenge is now the 'mindset' of the staff and student to accept and move with a renewed drive".
The other milestone projects were the opening of the new K120,000 security house and gate; the unveiling and renaming of the Special & Inclusive Learning Center to James Aiwa Special Education Center; the groundbreaking of a K235,000 ablution block for the day students (consisting of six toilets and two showers with accessibility for persons living with disabilities); two staff duplex houses costing K1.7m ad the ground braking for a temporary student dormitory.
SEVEN STUDENTS VISIT CHINA AS PART OF NEW PARTNERSHIP
A Chinese mandarin language instrutor from Gorka, is currently in China with seven UOG students under the Oceania Oasis program to further enhance the students exposure to not only International travel but speaking and observing Chinese culture.
Ms. Amy Keko, and seven students (Thonpson Kepi, Diana Malisa, Kayleen Bohoi, Mary Josiah, Cynthia David, Hardesha Sipa and Nedlyn Pina).
These very privileged lots are all third year students taking various courses under the School of Humanities.
Their trip has been made possible by a recenty signed memorandum of understanding between the Beijing Normal University(BNU) and the UOG.
According to a write-up by Ms. Keko, the Dean for International Cooperation of the School of International Chinese Language Education at BNU, Professor Feng Liping sent an invitation for the students short-term exchange program.
"My students are currently taking level two Mandarin. There are various levels they have to undertake to be at least proficient. It is a very difficult language to master, especially in getting the pronounciation's right", she said.
Students when interviewed separately shared same sentiment as their instructor.
Kepi, the only male in the all female group, from Imbongu said sounding the correct pronounciations and writing the Chinese characters is a nerve wrecking at first but with practice, he was getting used to it.
His female colleagues shared his views but said looking at the bigger pircture, many of them said that Mandarin being an accredited course, would look good on their papers when looking to apply overseas to further their career and this was a stepping stone for majority of them who had never been on a plane before.
The team expressed their gratitude to the management of UOG and the Somare Research Center Director, Dr. Jane Awi for their administrative and financial input towards this bilateral exchange.
Late last year a UOG delegation went to China together with a Prime Ministerial delegation to meet with members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in which several agreements were signed relating to trade and information communication technology.
The UOG delegated led by the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Teng Waninga, met with technical experts at China Open University whilst there, to discuss ways on how to digitize the University under its current ongoing reforms.
JAMES AIWA SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER NAMES AFTER FOUNDER
Established in early 2000 by Mark Bristol and supported by Dr. Guy Le Fanu ( two expartriates involved in providing technical assistance in special and inclusive education at UOG then) recruited James Aiwa, who was then the National Special Education Inspector and Curriculum Office at NDOE in 2003.
He came to UOG and developed courses for special/inclusive education programs; initially enrolled visually impaired students; recruited Mr. Ben Kilage and Joe Kuman and look after the center whist he went away to do his PhD studies, returning as Dr. Aiwa, to formally open the center in 2015.
Since the inception of the Special Education Centre, 19 special needs students, have graduated with either diplomas or bachelors and have found employment.
Only one visually impaired student, Noah Kunz, is currently doing his honors, with the rest having their own success stories and thriving elsewhere. There are only nine intakes this year.
Last week Friday, in what would be described as a truly fitting tribute to a selfless 'Yuri' Man a plague with the name, 'Jame Aiwa Special Education Centre' was revealed to invited guests.
Chancellor Wemin when officiating at the event was emotional as he paused during his speech, (as both men are from the 'Yuri' tribe in Gumine).
The event was to showcase the recent developments, courtesy of the Australian Awards and other donor agencies that have enabled the center to now have specifically designed accessible doors, steps, toilets and shower, ramps and a footpath.
This also includes six new laptops purchased by management sometime last year. The Center was fortunate to receive cartons of Braille books but due to space limitation they are still packed in boxes.
Dean of Education of which the center falls under, Dr. Kainaro Kravia reiterated that the center despite being understaffed, needing specialist staff with very limited spaces needed full time guides to interpret or transcribe lecture notes for the special students.
According to Kuman, majority of the special students who graduated where high achievers.
"I am very proud and humbled today knowing that a kinsman is being named after the building in which I work. He was a champion. It would be only fitting and I thank the management for their foresight.
Kuman organized a Yuri singsing group to be part of the unveiling ceremony.
UOG CHANCELOR SATISFIED WITH HIS WORK
UOG Chancellor, Joe Wemin, in thanking the management and staff for having successfully delivered their five year organizational restructure plans last week Friday, said he was satisfied with what he was tasked to do when appointed. With the three-year tenure for Council soon to lapse, Wemin said that the onus was now the mindset change of people who were afraid of change.
"The Council challenged the management and management delivered with a team of hardworking staff who worked tirelessly overnight into wee hours to produce the books I have just launched. Now it is up to you all to run with it", he said.
"I am grateful to the governemtn for having faith in us (Council). We are all experienced people in our own fields, we have offered advice and direction and now we see the results. Whatever we will be doing after this only the good Lord Knows", he added.
He said that the biggest change, which should get staff working harder to improve their outputs, was the higher salary pay grade of 19 for academic staff.
The VC, Dr. Teng Waninga when stating that the Department of Personnel Management had already approved 1200 teaching positions in principle, shared the positive vibe.
The major impact projects stated in the previous stories are all projects under the current Council, including the launching of the Internal Academic Audit and Restructure and Organizational Restructure, sometimes last year.
Wemin is a teacher by profession but has held very senior management roles previously. He was former Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL) CEO.
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