Campus to offer new diploma programmes

By JAMES GUMUNO
THE Highlands regional campus of the University of Goroka in
Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, will offer three new diploma programmes starting next month.
Regional director Hugo Kop said the new programmes were diploma in early childhood, tourism and hospitality and business and accounting.
He revealed the plan to offer the programmes during the third graduation of the regional open campus on Friday.
Kop said the new programmes would start in the second semester of this year with 30 students already being registered in each of the programmes.
He said the campus has plans to reach out to the rural areas by setting up study centres in the districts to compliment the Western Highlands government’s ducation policy.
Kop said this would depend on the funding from the provincial government and the University of Goroka.
Kop said the Western Highlands government has been very good to the campus over the years.
He said the provincial government supports them with annual grants, transport, accommodation, and other things.
“We have a very good working relationship with the provincial government, the UoG is very supportive with the coordination of the academic programmes and, especially, in its quality assurance aspects,” he said.
Kop said challenges include the need for a campus vehicle, relocation as current site being overcrowded, a library, a computer and science lab.
He said despite the challenges, there were some good opportunities coming with the campus.
Kop said the opportunities include UoG to write and offer Masters in Education through the Distance Flexible Learning or residential mode – all teachers with diploma can enrol to complete their degree programme, and UoG would work with the provincial government to see that its education policies being implemented.