Uni to resume ops in Northern

THE Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources (PNGUNRE) will resume its academic programmes at its Popondetta campus next year, a university official says.
Acting pro-vice chancellor planning and development Dr Francis Essacu said a team of staff from UNRE’s main campus in Vudal, East New Britain and pro chancellor Kenneth Sumbuk visited the Popondetta campus recently.
This followed a decision by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST). Dr Essacu said the visit was to see the facilities and discuss the decision to open the campus with the Northern government and Popondetta campus staff.
He said DHERST had made a decision for UNRE to resume operations at the Popondetta College last month. “This is six years after the National Executive Council (NEC) had approved that UNRE Popondetta campus to become an autonomous higher education training institute,” Dr Essacu said.
He said the campus was the former Popondetta Agricultural College and had been offering diploma level training in tropical agriculture since 2000 when it was integrated into PNGUNRE in 2014.
“Since the facilities are in good condition UNRE will enrol 20-30 first year agriculture students next year,” Dr Essacu said.