University changes centre’s name to ‘reflect its purpose’

THE PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment’s Kairak Vudal Resource Training Centre at Vudal campus in East New Britain, will now be known as Kairak Centre for Sustainable Rural Development.
Vice chancellor Prof Aisak Pue said the name change was to reflect the purpose of the centre.
“The centre is representing the University,” he said.
“It serves the length and breadth of this country.
“It will serve its purpose which is to reach out to 80 to 90 per cent of our people.”
Prof Pue said the centre ensured the rural population was equipped with “hard skills” to utilise their resources to improve their livelihoods.
“We are encouraging people to change their mindset and attitudes so they can use the resources they have to earn their living in an honest way,” he said.
Prof Pue thanked centre manager Hosea Turbarat and trainers and staff of the centre for their tireless efforts over the last 18 years.
“Thank you for bringing the centre to where it is today,” he said.
“To have trained more than 30,000 farmers in all four regions of this country over the last 18 years is a huge achievement.”
The centre was established in 2005 to house the extension programme, integrated agriculture training programme.
Turbarat said a new name had to be given to reflect the other programmes the centre now facilitated in collaboration with its local and international partners.
“KVRTC is too local and cannot market in the international arena,” Turbarat said.
“The centre is now facilitating and managing community projects, baseline and medium term surveys, climate change and gender awareness, business and small to medium enterprise programmes, youth and women programmes, including revitalisation of community industries such as cocoa and coffee industries,” he said.