Research skills vital: Czuba
MANY government sectors and agencies struggle with the same issues despite receiving substantial funding, Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology secretary Fr Jan Czuba says.
Fr Czuba said this was due to lack of research and information.
“The Government invests so much money in sectors such as health, education and agriculture with the perception of solutions that’s why the outcomes are poor,” Fr Czuba said during the National Research Institute (NRI) graduation on Friday in Port Moresby.
“We blame the system and not the people behind the system.
“Many people lack research skills. In dealing with social and economic issues, the questions that should be asked are why, how and where we went wrong instead of blaming the system.”
Speaking as the guest of honour at the graduation, Fr Czuba urged the graduands to explore in their various fields and utilise the research skills they acquired to influence policy-making.
Thirty-two students graduated with diplomas in economic policy analysis – an eight-week course.
“Coming here to study at NRI, you have invested in yourself,”he said. “The skills and competence you received cannot be measured by kina.
“When (you leave NRI), do research for your country, your employees and your family.
“You now have the skills to inquire, analyse and find solutions to problems.
“You have the competency to go out and do the right thing.
“You have the skills to make scientific enquiries to problems.
“NRI gave you those skills. It gave you a great mind so apply your skills.
“Research is an exercise for the mind and that makes you graduands compatible.
“Put those skills you have acquired from this great institute to good use.
“Help influence policies in government agencies, sectors and other areas.
“Your work would increase public awareness in issues surrounding sectors such as agriculture and health.”
5 comments
Known as the “ART OF THE SOLUBLE” is research, when one applies it in any aspect of life, it should reveal gaps hence the impetus for change. The fact that people complain of lack in service delivery despite huge and constantly increasing amount of budgetary allocation signals one truth! ie: we keep on doing the same things over and over again and yet expect to see different results…Einstein’s words still holds!
Fr Czuba’s advice is an emergency alert!
We need Papua New Guineans who have research skills to do content research about issues affect our country at the national, provincial, district and wards level which will bring content solutions. We appreciate the existence knowledge that we have but we new ideas and concepts to pave way for tangible development in all aspects of lives. Being a good researcher will create and bridge knowledge from known to the unknown in real the world and also local perspectives. Education and other field of studies need better research skills to advance development.
Totally agree with Fr Czuba. Research is what propels humanity forward. It’s fueled by curiosity: we get curious, ask questions, and immerse ourselves in discovering everything there is to know. Learning is thriving. Without curiosity and research, progress would slow to a halt, and our lives as we know them would be completely different.
On the other hand blaming the system does more harm to research than good. It substitutes or undermines curiosity, asking questions, and the will power to discovering. It kills human minds from thriving. It short circuits thinking processes and creates short cuts in the way we address issues and challenges. A nation with well developed Research and Development institutions are far advanced in technology, economy and security than nations who place little effort on it. Thank you again Fr. Czuba.
Fr Jan, it’s heartening to echo the significance of research evidence to inform the nation’s long and medium-term development strategies central to policy and planning, decision making and enforcing decisions at the implementation levels whereby human development, capacity development and sustainable development are interwoven with research agendas but based on policy priority of governments (national, provincial/districts) and interconnected to international scholarly knowledge.
But the past and more recent annual budgetary processes, annual budget submissions and allocations of funding spread over areas of needs and wants, constrained by the cash flow absorptive capacity reality, just do not make the departments and statutory bodies of national and provinces with meaningful options. Hence, salary and personnel emoluments eat up the slices of the loaf of bread, leaving the economic sector, and numerous other substantive agenda that is able to generate economic growth, employment informed from evidence-based research findings less significant and unimportant.
Government’s own NRI must be given the autonomy and funding to engage in all aspects of research. Universities, medical faculty, other HEIs institutes, DHERST and other bodies can be associated with and help drive the research agendas.
PNG politicians and leaders do not understand what “RESEARCH” really means and what it can done for a country. many developed & developing countries pump in millions & billions of dollars for various researches raising standings of their products and living standards. PNG’s brilliant minds are been waisted away because of lack funds. We’ve got bunch of stupid leaders or either we have unqualified greedy advisers advising politicians.
Thank you Fr. Czuba for seeing a path that only few can see.
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