Academic Departments
The University has over 3000 students and Its academic life is centred around its 14 Academic Departments, which provide advanced level teaching in the subjects of commerce, accountancy, management, commercial computing, agriculture, computer science, architecture and building, applied science, applied physics with electronics and instrumentation, radiation therapy, food technology, mining, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, communication engineering, electronic engineering, forestry, language & communication, surveying, cartography and land management, with the range of courses expanding as its resources grow. One pleasing feature of recent years has been the steady growth in the number of female students, thus adding to the variety of both the academic and social life of the University as well as improving the “balance” of the community as a whole. The University attracts a number of mature students, but the bulk of its students come from the National High and Secondary Schools. Recruitment is at grade 12 level and equivalent. Full information is provided in the Departmental Subsites.
Although a number of different architectural designs are reflected, the overall impression is harmonious and attractive, thanks in part to the unifying force of the University‟s grounds and gardens. The Buildings, many of which are air-conditioned, are spacious and contain the offices of teaching and support staff, classrooms, lecture theatres and general circulation areas. The new Civil Engineering Central Block, rebuilt after a disastrous fire in the early part of 1980, is a particularly airy Building in which good use is made of space and light to create a pleasant working environment.
Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture at the PNG University of Technology (Unitech) is the leading academic department providing agricultural science training in the country. Currently the Department has about 150 students enrolled in its four year degree program and 10 postgraduate students. It has 12 academic staff covering all major areas of agricultural science and who are very active in research and community outreach activities in spite of the difficult economic times.The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture programmes include both graduate and postgraduate courses which aims to provide students with a wide knowledge base suitable for agricultural and agriculturally related occupations in Papua New Guinea and other nations in the world.
Department of Applied Physics
The department, though relatively small, is a integral part of the university which teaches about 700 odd students on the campus as a whole. However, at present there are about 65 students enrolled in the department for the Bachelors Degree and 2 for the Postgraduate Diploma.It is designed to produce graduates with technical skills in electronics and instrumentation, together with a good understanding of the underlying physical principles.The total number of graduates that have been manufactured stands at 27 as the departments requirement for entry is a average of B+, hence thats a average of 9 students a year that graduates.
Department of Applied Sciences
The Department of Applied Sciences offers a 4-year B.Sc. degree programme in two strands namely Applied Chemistry and Food Technology. The Department also teaches chemistry as a service subject to the Engineering, Agriculture and the Forestry Departments. The research areas in the Department include; Food Processing/Engineering, Food Safety (Microbiology/Hygiene and Sanitation), Food Fermentation, Nutrition, Environmental Chemistry, Natural Products, Analytical Chemistry, Co-ordination Chemistry and General Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry.
Department of Architecture and Building
The mission of the Department of Architecture and Building at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology is to serve as the regional centre for Training qualified architects and building managers with an emphasis on developing design skills in architecture, problem solving design skills in building, and a commitment to the concepts of professionalism and intellectual endeavour.Department Conduct research and development work to promote environmentally, culturally and economically sustainable forms of tropical architecture and building, conservation of architectural heritages, beneficial utilisation of local natural resources, and advance the creative, technical and entrepreneurial talents of indigenous architects and building managers.
Department of Business Studies
The UNITECH is a 21st century transformational and technologically driven university with proven track records for producing national and Pacific regional leaders and beyond. Our Business alumni have led PNG’s industrial and governmental sectors for decades, and our graduate business programs are currently poised to drive various aspects of national strategic visions and development efforts, as well as regional and global competiveness in our increasingly complex business environment.Our scholar-practitioner programs are directed and delivered by a team of highly qualified and experienced Professors and Doctorate degree holders from the U.S.A., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines and others.
Department of Civil Engineering
The Department of Civil Engineering is well equipped for teaching and research and is housed in four main buildings and a separate workshop.The staff of the Department are engaged in research in all the major aspects of civil engineering covered in the course.The graduate has (his/her) choice of working in design, construction, inspection or management. Jobs may be primarily office-based (design and management) or may involve extensive travel (construction and inspection).Employers include the National government, Provincial Governments, Local Government Councils, and number of privately owned contracting and consulting firms. With experience, a graduate may have the opportunity to form his/her own engineering company.
Department of Communications and Development
The Department courses offer professional training for public relations,community development and liaison officers, especially for employment with resource development companies (mining, petroleum, forestry, fishing, etc.), government departments and landowner associations. The courses are part of a single programme (e.g., the Certificate forms the first semester of the Associate Diploma).They cover a wide range of subjects from several departments in the University. Students are trained in technical, scientific, commercial, legal linguistic and social fields, and they develop skills,strategies and techniques in various aspects of communication related to liaison work.The Communication for Development programme is intended to respond to a national need by training officers who can competently communicate, negotiate, disseminate information and resolve conflicts concerning the development of the nation's resources.
Department of Electrical & Communication Engineering
The Mission of the Department of Electrical and Communications Engineering is to produce high quality graduates and research for the development of life-long learning, critical evaluation and application of technology primarily for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.The Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering houses over 100 undergraduate students and over 30 staff members. The experienced academic staff within the department will provide you with an extensive range of specialisations and give you a solid background in Power, Control, Communication and Computer Engineering. Many academic staff in the department are recognised as being leaders in their fields and you will have access to the latest developments in your chosen area of specialisation.
Department of Forestry
The Department of Forestry at Unitech is the only institution in the South Pacific Island Region that offers training in tropical forestry at undergraduate and postgraduate level. The Department has a 4 year B.S. Forestry training conducted at Taraka and Bulolo campuses, and a separate 3 year Diploma Forestry training conducted exclusively at Bulolo campus. A 1 year diploma, 2 year Master’s degrees, and on special consideration, PhD degrees are offered at the postgraduate level. Field practical work is emphasized in the curriculum. Entry into the program is at Grade 12 PNG Higher School Certificate level or equivalent with a minimum ‘B’ grades in English, Biology, Chemistry or Physics, Mathematics (A) or ‘A’ in Mathematics (B). Training is designed to prepare graduates for employment in industry, government and non-government organization (NGO) sectors, not only in timber harvesting and wood processing, but also in non-timber forest products, and forest management generally.
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is one of the larger Departments of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, with a faculty of 20 academic and 6 support staff.The Mission of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is to produce quality research and graduates in Computer Science and to give suitable Service Courses in Mathematics and Computing, to all other Departments at the University. The aim is to produce graduates in Computer Science, of a high standard and comparable with similar graduates from other Universities in the Pacific Region, and who can provide the development, critical evaluation and application in their field for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
There are several active research and development projects in the Department, centred on problems of special interest in Papua New Guinea, including the development of low-cost solar heating systems, and solar powered systems for water pumping and space cooling. Other projects include structural vibration analysis, vibration monitoring in machine maintenance, applications to transport and farm machinery, and the development of low-cost water wheels for hydropower.There is a wide range of employment opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates in Papua New Guinea, particularly in the fields of manufacturing, power, mining, agriculture, maintenance of plant and machinery, transport, rural and community development. Activities of graduates include design, supervision of maintenance, planning and supervision of engineering projects, production processes and process control, sales and management.
Department of Mining Engineering
The Department of Mining Engineering was set up in 1988 at this University to train graduates for the Mineral Industry. In January 1990, the Mineral Technology Section then in the Department of Chemical Technology was transferred to the Department of Mining Engineering.The Department keeps close interaction with the mining industry of PNG through its contacts with the Mining Industry Advisory Committee comprising of the representatives of different mining and petroleum companies operating in PNG, Department of Mines and Department of Petroleum of Government of PNG, PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum and Academics. The courses offered by the Department are reviewed periodically to accommodate changes required as per the needs of the academic developments and the industrial requirement.
Department of Surveying and Lands Studies
The Department offers a number of courses which could be broadly described as the collection, collation, analysis, interpretation and application of spatial and economic data associated with the land. The application of technology is emphasized as is the role of the professional in the development of PNG. The Department has been producing graduates for over twenty five years and many graduates occupy senior positions in Government and the private sector in PNG and the Pacific Region.The courses of the Department are specific but considerable overlapping of discipline areas is encouraged with the aim of producing broader based graduates. The Department has good facilities including a comprehensive digital mapping, geographic information systems and remote sensing laboratory, state of the art global positioning systems technology and software, a cartographic processing laboratory and automated surveying systems as well as the normal surveying and mapping facilities.
Department of Open and Distance Learning (DODL)
The demographic trends, coupled with the social, political, and economic dynamics in the country jointly exert pressure on Higher Education in demand for appropriate solutions. The Department of Open and Distance Learning was born out of this demand to broaden the scope of academic offerings whilst paying attention to the needs of the society. The Department is a distinguished centre of academic excellence and a beacon of innovations mandated to transform the educational dreams of willing learners by offering open and distance-based academic programs that are prestigious, affordable, accessible, and appropriate for Papua New Guinea and beyond.