New vice chancellor appointed

By ROSELYN ELLISON
THE University of Natural Resource and Environment (UNRE) council has appointed Dr Ponji Kitchawen as its new vice chancellor.
Kitchawen takes over from Dr James Yoko, who had been appointed for a one year period at its Vudal campus in East New Britain.
Acting chancellor Dr Andrew Masta said the VC’s position had been advertised again last month and had attracted eight applicants – four were shortlisted, while one withdrew.
“Only three applicants were interviewed by the council board,” he said.
“There are two processes we use.
“One is where we use the human resource company who did their own process of screening the applicants, while the other process is the university council which has a search committee, which I chaired and involves oral presentations.”
“So it is upon the three applicants who made public lectures last Thursday and later the committee interviewed them and prepare reports according to each applicant’s presentation.”
Masta furthermore stated that the HR company also followed a similar process.
He said after the process was completed, Kitchawen met all the UNRE council and HR company’s requirements. “I am pleased to announce that after completion of both processes Dr Kitchawen was recommended by both processes and now UNRE council committee has appointed Dr Kitchawen as the new vice chancellor for UNRE,” Masta said.
He said former VC Dr Yoko was initially one of the four short-listed applicants but withdrew his application.
Masta congratulated Dr Kitchawen on his appointment to a three-year term.
Masta also thanked Dr Yoko for his time and commitment during his term.
Meanwhile, UNRE council also announced the appointed of Aisak Pue as pro vice chancellor (academic).
Pue, an associate professor, and was promoted to pro VC recently by the council.
Dr Kitchawen thanked the council for appointing him as the new VC and said, he was looking forward to working with them all for the university’s betterment.