VC's Christmas Message 2016

Background

Against difficult odds, the PNG University of Technology was able to round up the 2016 academic year successfully. Fortunately, despite our financial challenges we will continue to be able to process the payroll on time in December and January. We thank you all for your hard work and support during this extremely challenging and stressful year. The night of 24-25 June was not a silent, nor a peaceful night.

Statue of St. Augustine

(Speech at the St. Augustine Parish for the Donation of a Small Statue of St. Augustine, 4 December 2017.)

Today, I would like to present a small statue of St. Augustine of Hippo (now Algeria in North Africa) to this parish which has been named after him when it was consacrated by Bishop Henry van Lieshout on 4th of June 2008.

Statue of St. Augustine in Pavia

Excellence and Transparancy in Research, Teaching and Operations

(Speech delivered at the Closing of 2016 series of UNITECH's 1 hour Tuesday research seminars, Rose Kekedo Foyer, PNGUoT Taraka Campus, 29 November 2016).

As always, it has been great today to be able participate in this very interesting research seminar. Thank you for inviting me and allow me to make a few closing remarks for this year's series.

Dr. Kaul Gena presenting his research at the seminar 22 November 2016

Let me cluster my remarks around three key questions. First, is there a standard of excellence for research? Secondly, what role do publicly funded research intensive universities play in the national innovation system? Third, what are UNITECH's contribution to research and innovation in PNG?

Vice Chancellor's Speech to Welcome Student upon Resumption of Classes 30 August 2016: 9 am

(under embargo until 12 pm, Monday 29 August 2016)

Duncanson Hall, Tuesday 30 August 9-10 am

Dear Students, Professors, Heads of Departments, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we are happy to welcome back all our students. After only one and a half day of registration, almost 1,000 had already registered. Our student seem eager to go back to the lecture halls and resume their studies. We trust that you will continue to show this attitude through your behaviour at all times until the end of your studies.

Last Thursday, the first dinner was served in the temporary mess, which was set up by iPi in less than 1 month. We are very grateful for their efforts, which made it possible to re-open the university in record time. The criminals who burnt down the old mess, thought they had knocked out UNITECH for at least a year, or forever. Instead we rose like a phoenix from the ashes, and we are open for business again.

Ancient mythical phoenix 

​From the outset we have said to the students, that everywhere else in the world, students engage in religious, sports, cultural and political activities while attending classes. Voting massively for a class boycott in week 10 while not having a plan or strategy was therefore unwise. Even more unwise, was to postpone the return to classes on 5 June. Then it was postponed again until 20 June, but by that time acrimony among students prevailed, students refused to return to classes.

Meeting the police to stop the shooting and rock throwing

Council member Dilu Goma on PM's legal arguments

http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2016/06/peter-oneills-exculpatory-arguments-do-not-stand-scrutiny.html

On planning for effectiveness, and the virtues of moderation

VC's Speech delivered at the SRC forum on 5 June 2016

Dear Students:

Thank you for inviting me today at this SRC forum to share some thoughts about your future as a student and a professional, and the future of this University.

The University Management at the Forum

During the last 2 weeks, the students have played an important role in raising awareness about the complex constitutional and economic issues facing the country, In doing this, they showed intelligence plus character, which is the hallmark of any educated person.