Students who graduate with Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Port Moresby Technical College (POMTECH) can advance to 2nd Year Electrical Engineering at the University of Technology in Lae. This was revealed after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions this week.
POMTECH Principal Mr. Henry Wamaingu announced that the MOU paves the way for top performing students who score higher GPAs of 3.2 to 3.4 in the Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering and Electronics can apply to do Unitech to do 2nd Year Electronical Engineering. In the past without the arrangement, graduates of POMTECH are recognized as Tradesman in their respective field of studies.
Unitech Vice Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi said the partnership is to create a pathway for POMTECH students to pursue higher qualifications from Bachelor’s Degree up to Doctoral (PhD). This would also pave the way for POMTECH to grow as an institution from being a Trade College to a University as well in the nature future.
Part of the MOU also includes PNG University of Technology extending it’s Department of Open and Distance Learning (DODL) center to POMTECH campus at Idubada Campus next the Central Business District of Port Moresby (town area). DODL courses will be available students in Port Moresby city but also the staff, students and the communities surrounding the campus.
The POMTECH Council was pleased with Unitech and they are in the right path towards implementing the Government’s Medium Development Plan Four “to provide quality education and skilled human capital”. There is also plans to add business courses under the MOU in the near future to create pathways the business students too.
Strategic Benefits for Unitech
This is a strategic move by Unitech on few important things. Firstly, Unitech is the Country’s top state University in offering Bachelors Degree in various Technical Fields such as Electrical, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering , Computer Science, Food Technology and etc. Admitting top POMTECH students into 2nd Year program is a right partnership. Secondly, lots Grade 12 students who missed out on DHERST National Selection can upgrade their Science Courses marks but it wasn’t possible. Unitech had it’s DODL office and operations in Port Moresby with Geheru Seondary School. However, Gerehu Secondary School is well known for notorious student behaviors such as School Fights, Student Cult movements, and etc. As such, it wasn’t a conducive facility for students to have access. Also, in terms of facilities that DODL can use like the Physics, Biology, and Chemistry Lab. POMTECH has the resources as well the student safety aspects for DODL students.
Thirdly, the Grade 12 Marks upgrading of subjects that students have either failed or scored low mark is a big market in the education sector in Port Moresby. This market share was dominated by University of Papua New Guinea Open College, with a dedicated NCD Open Campus (NCDOC). Unfortunately, in 2023, the UPNG Council made a decision to forgo the Certificate Courses and concentrate on offering only Undergraduate Degree programs through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.
With Unitech partnering with POMTECH to establish ODL center will surely fill this gap and provide access to many students to re-apply, not only to Unitech but also, UPNG and other higher learning institutions in the country as well.
Recognition of student’s prior learning and experience.
This partnership also highlights one important policy defect in the higher education sector. That is the recognition of student’s prior learning and experience. Currently there no policy which allows students who have acquired Certificates and Diplomas and have industry experience to enroll into 3rd and 4th Year studies at universities. Particularly, those who apply as Non-School Leavers. If their applications is successfully, they are all asked to start from 1st Year. This simply means, they are just a repeat of some of the course units they have covered in their lower Certificate or Diploma Courses at state Technical Colleges or private training institutions like IBS, International Training Institute, Mapex Training Institute and etc.
DHERST as the higher education regulatory government department need to this policy in place so that students can transition from lower tertiary institutions to universities without having to start from year 1.
Other universities should have similar MOUs with the state and private technical and business colleges.