Another milestone for University of Vudal

Caption: Kampalap villagers from Siassi Island, Morobe province, leading graduating students at the University of Vudal in East New Britain province last Friday.

University of Vudal in East New Britain province celebrated another significant milestone in its history and development last Friday with the graduation of 125 students.

This included 35 diploma in tropical agriculture students from the Oro campus who could not graduate in their own ceremony due to the closure of Girua airport at their scheduled time of graduation.

While the majority of Oro students graduated in absentia, four – Jeremy Philip, Adolph Ruku, Isidor Saeke and Fidelma Sarsoruo – were part of the ceremony at Vudal.

Of the 90 main campus graduands, 50 students received their diplomas in tropical agriculture, 25 had their bachelors degrees in tropical agriculture conferred on them while 12 received graduate certificates in management studies.

A further three students received their masters degrees in management studies.

This, including the seven fisheries and marine resources diploma graduands in Kavieng the previous week, brought the total number of graduates from the university this year to 132.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner Bernard Bata’anisia officiated at the ceremony as guest speaker while others included Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Siaguru and student respondent Nason Gene

“I understand the department of forestry here in Vudal is finalising plans to start enrolling its first post-graduate students on a split arrangement with James Cook University, Cairns campus, in 2009, to work on ACIAR research projects,” said Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

“Early this year, we took delivery of 20 new high covenant houses and eight new student dormitories, a total of 28 new buildings for the growing and expanding university.

“These facilities were built at a cost of K23 million by the government and people of the People’s Republic of China.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to furnish them for occupancy due to the inability of the national government to fulfill its commitment in full to the university until recently.

“Even then, the money is yet to be paid to Vudal in full.

“Hopefully, we will have these facilities fully furnished and ready for occupancy by the beginning of the academic year 2009.”