UNRE takes back UNRE Popondetta

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Oro Provincial Administration staff with UNRE officers.
PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment will resume offering its Academic Programs at PNG UNRE Popondetta Campus in Oro Province next year (2021).

This follows a decision by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST).

Last week UNRE Chancellor Professor Kenneth Sumbuk and acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor Planning and Development Dr Francis Essacu, with senior staff from UNRE Popondetta Campus met with Oro Provincial Administrator Trevor Magei and executive members from the Office of Governor Garry Juffa to discuss the latest development of Popondetta Campus.

In a recent interview, Dr Essacu said that a team of staff members from UNRE main Campus and Chancellor Professor Sumbuk visited the campus to see the facilities as well as to hold discussions with the Provincial Government and Popondetta campus staff on the DHERST decision. 

He explained that DHERST had made a decision for UNRE to resume operations at the Popondetta college last month. 

This is six years after the National Executive Council had approved that it become an autonomous higher education training institute.

The former Popondetta Agricultural College had been offering Diploma level training in Tropical Agriculture since 2000 when PNG UNRE as the then University of Vudal integrated it.

Dr Essacu said since the facilities are in good condition UNRE will enrol 20-30 first year Agriculture students next year. 

Early this year the acting director of Popondetta Campus Cletus Tepayan and three staff travelled to UNRE's Vudal Campus in East New Britain to meet with the University Management. 

In that meeting, they requested the University Council hold discussions with relevant authorities to reverse the decision made in March 2014.  

Mr Tepaiyan said in terms of landmass, Popondetta campus is one of the richest campuses in the country. The campus has 600 hectares of land.

He said this is why it should be revived and its core business of training and equipping the young generation with the skills and knowledge to develop PNG’s natural resources sector, be allowed to continue.

He added that six years is too long for an institution to be left idle. 

Mr Tepaiyan said the decision has also affected many potential students who wished to study there.

He said the revenue generated from Oil Palm, Cocoa and Livestock had kept the campus in operation for the last six years.

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