7 June 2011For immediate release
PNG and Australia support PAU Business School
PNG and Australia will help the Pacific Adventist University to build the first lecture theatres and classrooms for the School of Business at the university.
The School of Business has been sharing amenities with other schools at the university, which has limited the intake of students intending to undertake a business degree.
Funding of PGK 10 million will be provided through the PNG/Australia Incentive Fund to cater for increased enrolments in business studies by building lecture theatres, classrooms, computer labs and a study centre at the university which together will accommodate over 800 business students.
Head of AusAID in PNG Stephanie Copus Campbell said that more university graduates meant that PNG businesses would have access to a larger group of educated and skilled young Papua New Guineans.
“With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, PNG is creating jobs faster than ever before and it is important for the future of the country that skilled Papua New Guineans fill these positions,” Ms Copus Campbell said.
“Australia has been supporting PNG to lift the enrolment rates in elementary, primary and secondary education so it is encouraging to see more Papua New Guineans entering not only university, but also the technical and vocational education sector. This work supports the PNG Government’s priorities outlined in the MTDP 2011-2015 and the Vision 2050.”
Assistance to the School of Business will also include staff resource rooms, furniture and 125 computers for students. Planning for the project has been completed and construction is expected to be completed in 2012.
Vice-Chancellor of the Pacific Adventist University and Dean of the School of Business Studies, Dr Ben Thomas said the new School of Business infrastructure will allow the University to grow the enrolment of business students from 239 in 2010 to 510 by 2015.
“This growth will provide Papua New Guinea with much needed places for business students and allow Pacific Adventist University to run the School of Business more cost effectively,” Dr Thomas said.
In 2003 the Pacific Adventist University used PGK 8.9 million in funding from the Incentive Fund to upgrade the School of Health Sciences. Over the past eight years the School has flourished, providing quality training for student nurses as well as training to upgrade the skills of existing nursing personnel.
The upgrade included an on-site clinic that provides basic health services to the surrounding community as well as outreach programs to provide the students with health experience in rural areas.