PNG UNRE News

PNG UNRE students are nearing completion of a  model Agri-Smart Farm.  The project is being developed during their industrial training at the Mauberema Ecotourism, Nature Conservation, Education, Research & Training Centre (MENCERTC) in Simbu Province. The farm set up includes a nursery, tool shed, training hub, farm manager’s residence and a poultry house. MENCERTC Founder and Director Mr Moses Kerry said the project will be officially launched next Wednesday (January 28), alongside a farewell ceremony for students who will receive their IT (Industrial Training) Completion certificates. Mr Kerry said the Model Agri-Smart Farm will support farmer training, supply seedlings, create local employment and contribute to student-led agricultural research. He said the initiative was possible through funding support from the Global Greengrants Fund (United States). PNGUNRE's partnership with MENCERTC began in 2022. The collaboration provides students with hands-on, community-...

PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment was proudly represented at the 5th National Mock Youth Parliament by three of its young leaders. Two current students and one recent graduate joined 60 youth delegates from across the country for the national leadership program, held at the National Parliament House in Port Moresby from December 15–19, 2025. (l-r) Dylan Minikula, Bethany Tapoli and  Swancy Saiva. Representing PNG UNRE were:  Dylan Minikula (Final Year Forestry), Bethany Tapoli (Third Year Forestry) and Swancy Saiva, who graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor in Sustainable Tropical Forestry. The National Mock Youth Parliament, which began in 2021, was themed Youth Leading PNG’s Next 50 Years .  It is a collaborative initiative led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the EU-funded Transparency and Accountability in PNG Project, the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) ...

The Council of PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment has approved the establishment of a new ocean and climate research institute. This was announced by Acting Chancellor Mr Martin Maden in a memo to all staff last week. The Momis Ocean and Climate Research Institute will focus on ocean systems, climate change impacts, sea-level rise, coral bleaching and marine ecosystems.  It is named in honour of UNRE Chancellor Chief Dr John Momis, recognising his longstanding contribution to environmental protection, governance and national development. UNRE Chancellor Chief Dr John Momis. Mr Maden said Chief Dr Momis, 83, is a senior statesman and one of the principal architects of Papua New Guinea’s Constitution.  As a former member of the Constitutional Planning Committee, he played a key role in embedding environmental protection and sustainable resource use within the Constitution’s Fourth National Goal and Directive Principles. Born in Salamaua in Morobe Province to a B...

Notice to Students, Parents and Sponsors Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment advises students, parents, sponsors and stakeholders that the 2026 School Fees Structure is now available. 👉 Click here to view or download the PDF copy of the 2026 PNG UNRE School Fees Structure Important Notes The fees listed apply to the 2026 academic year . Students are advised to read the document carefully and pay close attention to the Notes and Important Dates. Any updates or amendments will be communicated through official University channels. Enquiries For further information, please contact: Academic & Student Administration Office 📧 studentadmin@unre.ac.pg

Mr Alex Nona. W hen Alex Nona arrived at Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment (PNG UNRE) as the new Human Resources Manager, he stepped into a role central to any institution’s stability and long-term growth — managing its people. With more than a decade of human resource experience across the private sector and higher education, he brought both technical expertise and a reform-minded outlook to a university entering a critical period of expansion and transformation. Mr Nona’s story begins far from administrative offices and policy manuals. He comes from a remote community in the upland areas of the Markham District in Morobe Province. He attended Numbugu Community School before progressing to Markham Valley High School for Grades 7–10 and later to Bumayong Secondary School for Grades 11 and 12. Growing up, his father worked in Lae and was often away, and his mother frequently travelled between the city and their village. This meant he spent much of his chil...

Photos above: Induction with NBPOL Training Manager Mr Steven Maddie and NBPOL Human Resource Secretary Ms Margaret Sitban. Industry training is an important component of all academic programs at PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment (PNG UNRE), providing students with practical workplace experience. In West New Britain Province, this requirement is being supported through a training partnership between the PNG UNRE West New Britain Students Association (PNG UNRE WNBSA) and New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL). Initiated in 2024, the collaboration enables Year 3 students from different academic programs to undertake industrial training with NBPOL. It is coordinated by PNG UNRE WNBSA in collaboration with NBPOL Training Manager Mr Steven Maddie and Head of Smallholders Affairs Mr Wilfred Tangole. Under the arrangement, students complete an eight-week training program, gaining hands-on industry experience and applying academic theory in practice. NBPOL provides financia...

A journey of love, memory, and final return — told by the daughter of a man who devoted his life to Papua New Guinea’s forests. By REBECCA HOWCROFT, daughter of the late Neville Howcroft. UNRE rep Sylvester Kulang (second right), with Rebbeca Howcroft and her brother Mike at the burial site in Bulolo. T he old DC-3, a relic of an era Dad had helped build, was gone, replaced by the modern drone of a twin-prop plane rattling toward Bulolo. But as the mountains of Morobe Province sharpened through the haze, the air felt thick with his memory. Inside my suitcase, nestled in heavy silence, were his ashes—the final, physical remnants of a man whose heart never truly left the humid valleys of Papua New Guinea. He passed away in a Brisbane hospital on November 2, 2024, but in the final months of his life, his wish was clear: he belonged back in Bulolo. Dad’s story was inextricably linked to Bulolo. It wasn't just a town of gold dust and timber; it was where his purpose began. He started hi...

Workshop participants with Fullbright Scholar Dr Aishat Balugun and Vice Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue. PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to improving its academic programs for effective delivery to students. Last month about 60 academic staff attended a four-day workshop from November 18-21 on Curriculum Design, co-sponsored by USAID in PNG. The workshop was facilitated by Fullbright Scholar Dr Aishat Balugun, a distinguished academic from Indiana University with extensive expertise in curriculum design, instructional development, and higher education quality assurance. Dr Balogun’s experience in curriculum innovation, assessment strategies, and faculty training guided PNG UNRE academic staff in aligning their curriculum practices with both institutional goals and national standards. The workshop was specifically designed for personnel involved in teaching and learning and forms part of the Vice Chancellor’s broader endeavour to promote a cultur...

Shirleyna Aipa from PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment was the only participant from Papua New Guinea at last month's Global Sustainable Islands Summit in Canada. Miss Aipa, is a tutor with the University’s Agriculture Department. She holds a Bachelor in Tropical Agriculture from PNG UNRE and is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Agriculture at the PNG University of Technology in Lae.  The summit she attended was held from May 21 to May 23 on Prince Edward Island in Canada.  Miss Aipa applied for the six-week online training on Best-Practice Skills for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) before being successful as one of 10 students selected worldwide to participate in the Summit. She said the summit was attended by professionals from across the globe, many of whom were unfamiliar with PNG. She felt privileged to share information about PNG, PNG UNRE, and PNG University of Technology. The summit served as a platform for k...

THE leadership role he performed while studying at PNG UNRE has unlocked his potential to lead and drive the research team to all NBPOL sites. Mr Paulus Kikitam, a graduate of PNG UNRE, now a Research Supervisor (Precision Agriculture) under New Britain Palm Oil Limited’s Technical Services Division at Dami Research Station, West New Britain Province.  His main duties are to supervise and undertake duties associated with one or more oil palm agronomy research in all NBPOL sites in PNG and Solomon Islands.  Mr Kikitam graduated with a Bachelor in Tropical Agriculture. As SRC President in 2020 he was able to lead the students well despite the challenges he faced as a leader.  He said the leadership responsibility prepared him for life after UNRE.  “Playing an important role as SRC president in 2020 improved my decision-making and time management skills. The leadership role unlocked my potential to lead and drive the research team to all NBPOL sites,” said Mr Kikitam....

NARI Kerevat Research Leader Godfrey Hannet launches the new Goat training manual as Acting PVC Academic & Research Peter Navus (right) looks on.  PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment through its farmer training centre has launched the Cocoa and Goat Integration Training Manual and opened a Goat Breeding Centre. The event, which was held last month was attended by university staff; representatives from NARI, NAQIA and PNG Cocoa Board; James Butubu Area Manager ACIAR Bougainville; and acting Pro Vice Chancellor Academic and Research Mr Peter Navus. Speaking on behalf of the University, Mr Navus thanked the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for having confidence in UNRE as one of its partners, the University Farmer Training Centre, Kairak Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (KCfSRD) for the implementation of the project objectives and the other collaborating partners. Mr Navus is confident that the Centre has achieved its object...

PNG UNRE has contributed to the formulation of a National Policy on Blue Carbon in PNG. UNRE Vice-Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue and two academics - Daniel Waldi from the School of Natural Resources (Forestry Department) and Jason Paliau from the School of Environment & Climate Change represented the University at the recent National Stakeholders Blue Carbon Workshop at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby. The objectives of the Blue Carbon Workshop were to:  ● assess Papua New Guinea’s current status on Blue Carbon Activities  ● inform decision makers on the challenges and the opportunities of addressing blue carbon activities in PNG  ● strengthen coordination roles amongst stakeholders and  ● reaffirm key action priorities and guidance from stakeholders for Government consideration.  Mr Waldi explained that Blue Carbon refers to the role of coastal ecosystems particularly mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal salt marshes and estuaries...

A TARGET set by the University Farm for rice seeds multiplication was achieved last week with over 200 kilograms of rice harvested and milled. UNRE Farm Manager Alex Nugi said from the 2kg seeds received, the crops section harvested and milled 200 kilograms. 150 kilograms were milled for consumption and sold for K4 per kg whilst 50kgs were kept as seeds. The rice variety Taichung Sen 10 (TCS 10) was delivered by Taiwan Technical Missions last year purposely for UNRE Farm to set up a rice distribution centre to supply farmers throughout the country. The seeds were delivered by Dr Caleb Manamik Breria, an alumnus of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan on behalf of the Technical Mission. This variety is suitable for PNG, in terms of quality and taste. It is highly nutritious and the most successful variety in PNG that has been trailed by the National Agricultural Research Institute. The plan was for the University to cultivate that 2kg to multiply the rice see...

UNRE Estates & Services Manager Mike Ambrose (second from right) receives the power tiller from Head of Taiwan Missions in PNG, Mr. Chin Yu Lee. Looking on is Dr Caleb Breria (right).   AGRICULTURAL training institutions like PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment need to provide training in commercial and large-scale agriculture. Acting Dean of the University’s School of Natural Resources and Head of the Department of Agriculture, Peter Navus, said this earlier this month at the handover ceremony of a power tiller donated by the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Lae. Mr Navus said until Papua New Guinea develops its commercial agriculture, it cannot compete with the agriculture industry of countries like Australia. He said with this focus in mind, it is important that institutions expose students to the latest agriculture technology; and have agriculture machinery such as the power tiller and others, that students can be taught how to use to increase fa...

PNG UNRE Vice-Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue has called on students to look after university facilities. The VC told students in his message to them at the Orientation Welcome last week that over the last five years, the University has spent millions of Kina to renovate dormitories. He said the money could be used for other developments in the university. He said as a university student you are expected to perform at a certain level even coming from rural areas.  “These are things that we want you to look after as a responsible citizen of this country. Apart from these, other infrastructure are being upgraded, repaired or built to cater for the University’s growth,” said Professor Pue. Acting Dean of the Centre  for Graduate Studies &  Research, Dr Nason Pue. Meanwhile, acting Dean of the Centre for Graduate Studies & Research Dr Nason Pue who gave the Keynote Address at the Orientation program, told new students that they h...

PNG UNRE has banned any student protests on campus as there are legal consequences of this. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue issued a strong warning to students in a recent campus-wide memorandum.  The VC stated that student complaints must be properly lodged with the department or section of the University concerned in consultation with Students Support Services for the proper redress process.  “Consult the University guidelines or rules, regulations and policies on the steps to take for the different consultation procedures,” Professor Pue said. He said the Student Representative Council must have regular meetings with the general student body to properly educate the student population on issues of concern before taking them (issues) to the Management of schools or the University. The memo stated that a restraining order is in place on protests due to the breach on the SRC’s own constitution in 2021.  Persons instigating protests will be arrested immediate...