Higher Education, Research, Science, Technology and Sports Minister Kinoka Feo, visited University of Papua New Guinea last week and pledged 100% support to make the institution once again the “flagship of higher education institutions” in the country and the Asia-Pacific region.
The Minister welcomed the Council’s appointment of UPNG’s new Vice- Chancellor Professor Ian Findlay, with substantive university transformation experience, to lead the implementation of UPNG’s strategy and action plan.
He also noted the Council’s plan to immediately fill the top executive management positions of the University ensuring a solid team with the Vice-Chancellor to drive the transformation strategy.
The Minister, who is also the Member for Unggai-Bena, pledged during his official visit and meeting with UPNG’s leadership including Chancellor Sir Robert Igara and the UPNG Council, Vice Chancellor Prof Ian Findlay and the Executive Management
Feo called on UPNG to take immediate action targeting seven strategic
objectives include:
• Establish best practise governance and management policies and systems
• demonstrating honesty and integrity.
• Endow appropriate values and character traits as part of UPNG’s learning
• programs and outcomes of UPNG graduates. fit for the 21 st Century and
• beyond.
• Increase student intake, targeting annual school leavers, through online
• education and expansion of UPNG provincial and district centres.
• Mount post-graduate online studies for professional qualifications.
• Accreditation of UPNG’s academic programs to international professional
• qualifications and standards.
• Increase overseas undergraduate and post-graduate enrolments.
• Internationally recognised research and innovation.
The Minister also stated that he had the support of Prime Minister James Marape and Minister for Treasury Ian Ling-Stuckey to secure international development financing to invest in UPNG, and other State Universities.
Minister Feo noted the recent Kramer Ausenco report estimating total cost of K 1.4 – K1.9 billion required to rehabilitate UPNG’s current infrastructure and facilities.
He is committed to secure immediate funding for UPNG’s ICT infrastructure, systems and training program in the 2026 budget.
He acknowledged the critical need for Staff Homeownership and committed to supporting UPNG on this as well.
Minister Feo recognised these and other challenges will be addressed through UPNG’s “Reconstruction and Modernisation Program” currently being prepared.
He has called on UPNG leaders and management to take bold and decisive action to increasing access and using assets to resource UPNG.
