Goroka uni keen on ITC

 By MALUM NALU

THE University of Goroka is stepping up a notch as it strives to become the university with the best computer and internet facilities in Papua New Guinea.

One of those behind the scenes of UOG’s phenomenal rise of late is its Japanese Information and Communications Technology (ITC)  manager, Russell Deka Harada, who started his JICA volunteer career in 1997, the same time as UOG took independent status from former University of PNG Goroka campus.

He said UOG had a master plan to build a new ICT Centre on campus from where it could take lead in ICT for the people of PNG.

“Internet is a very powerful tool for education but at this moment, connection costs of the Internet in PNG is most expensive in the world, and also less than 10% people in PNG are concurrent users,” Harada said.

“When UOG will complete development for ICT, students can access UOG lecturers from anywhere, anytime through the Internet.

 “Students can research from the Internet and can upload their resource into the Internet too.”

Harada said the UOG had advanced so much from 1997.

“In 2009, UOG invested over K70,000 for instalment of PNG Academic Research Network (PNGARNet) led by Divine Word University (DWU) and installed a 2.8m VSAT dish,” he said. 

“After this installation, UOG ICT department started Internet access for students.

“Most of the PCs were donated by Japanese government in 2004-2005.

“UOG ICT department purchased some refurbished PCs from DWU and also received contributions from Japanese Computer School (Kyoto Computer Gakuin School) in 2009.”