A professor is a teacher

The National Letters

A PROFESSOR is simply a teacher of the highest rank in an established school or institution.
Apart from this simple definition, a professor must also be able to:

  • Publish widely in national and international journals in his/her field of expertise;
  • conduct researches and strive to discover new knowledge;
  • provide advice and commentaries on sensitive issues affecting the people;
  • provide advice on issues of national importance to government and policy makers;
  • provide the academic leadership in his/her department and the institution as a whole;
  • collaborate with colleagues abroad to secure research funding and scholarships for students; and,
  • Review, revise and audit academic programmes and so on.

Universities in Papua New Guinea are dishing out professor and associate professor titles just like her majesty’s honors on her birthday.
I have Googled many big name professors in Papua New Guinea and all I see are statements made at conferences and meetings they have attended.
Nothing is found in scientific, business or literature journals which are original works.
There are very few people who have proven themselves in this challenge in Papua New Guinea.
Universities should award this esteemed title purely on merits otherwise we will have too many of them.
There are many with PhD and are just as good as the professors.
I am worried we might have to send some of these people to lower and upper secondary schools in the near future!

Du Doa Gan
Mondia Village