Is PNG heading for a crisis?

Original: Is PNG heading for a crisis? 22 February 2015

Author: Stephen Howes, ANU

Last year in Papua New Guinea was eventful, marked by a series of controversial government decisions.

In March, the government decided to take out a loan of about 3 billion kina (US$1.2 billion, about 8 per cent of GDP) to buy shares in Oil Search. The decision divided the government, and the treasurer was sacked for his opposition to it.

Why UNITECH chose Ubuntu, free and open-source operating system

UPDATE: All the reasons below are still valid, but here is an update from How to Geek magazine from 2024.

Our main reasons for choosing Ubuntu  as an operating system for the student and staff laptops, and all the (virtual) desktops are the following:

1. No viruses are known, no virus software license is needed
2. Comes with free open-source software (LibreOffice is better than MS Office, except maybe Excel)
3. With cheaper, simpler hardware, better performance.
4. Longer battery life on laptops.
5. Life-long support for graduates, no pirated software needed.
6. Edubuntu version for higher education.
7. Zero price, low lifetime costs. Yes, sometimes something free can be better than something you pay for!

Quotes and full text of US Ambassador's Walter North's speech "Unburned Bridges"

HE US Ambassador Walter North

‪#‎PNG‬ ‪#‎UNITECH‬ Guest Day Orientation Week all quotes from US Ambassador Walter North's speech "Unburned Bridges", deliver at Duncanson Hall on 4 February 2015:

There is a wonderful Welsh proverb that says: "He who would be a leader should be a bridge".

"..the advancement of our world depends on educated citizens with skills and moral awareness to drive change"

"in looking at PNG, I have been amazed by the tremendous spirit of innovation, generosity and grit that makes lives of dignity possible".

On Being a Good University 2: speech for Minister Tabar's Visit on 4 February 2015

Speech held by Dr. Albert Schram, Vice Chancellor, for the visit of Hon. Malakai Tabar, Minister HERST

4 February 2015, Duncanson Hall, West Taraka Campus

(1800 words – 14 Minutes)

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INTRODUCTION

Students, Minister Hon. Malakai Tabar, First Secretary honoured guests, professors, heads of departments, Faculty and staff members, ladies and gentlemen,

We are delighted to welcome our Minister, Hon. Malakai Tabar today to our campus, and we thank him for addressing our first year students. This is the third time he visits our campus, and I believe it is a sign that we have good relations with the Department.

On Being a Good University 1: opening of academic year

Speech held by Dr. Albert Schram, Vice Chancellor, at the opening of the academic year on 2 February 2015, Duncanson Hall, West Taraka Campus

Published at http://albertschram.blogspot.com/2015/02/on-being-good-university-papua-new.html

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(Check against delivery)

INTRODUCTION

Students, honoured guests, Council members, Heads of Departments, Faculty, Support Staff, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the PNG University of Technology. Hereby, I declare the Academic Year 2015 officially opened.

To the first years, congratulations that you have been selected among many. We are sorry that we can not accept more students on campus, and so many excellent grade 12 leavers are left out of the University system.

Anybody can see that no new academic or service buildings on our campus were built, since independence by the state of PNG. Since next year we celebrate our 50th anniversary - our Golden Jubilee - , this year we are particularly disappointed that our requests for a better library and a multi-purpose hall were declined, and funds promised earlier were diverted for other purposes. Our messing and library facility, for example, is designed for 500 students, and now adapted to serve 2.000. We are full.