Positive progress being made at University of Goroka

By KATE GUNN of UOG

 

Positive progress has been made in the months following the student boycott earlier this year at the University of Goroka.

The UOG council has begun implementing recommendations of the independent investigation committee’s (IIC) report.

From the report compiled by the ILC who investigated the boycott, the UOG council standing committee has initiated improvements to help the overall effectiveness of the university in two key areas.

The first key area will involve the restructure of the university.

 This will involve a major overhauling of the university’s organisational structure to establish a model more relevant to the needs of the institution, in accordance with the organisational and academic re-structures already in place. 

Special focus will be given to the areas of senior academic staff appointments and remuneration. 

This will be undertaken by a specialist group composed of a consultant, UOG staff, and stakeholders who will work on the restructure as a matter of urgency.

The second key area to be undertaken as per direction from the council standing committee will concern staff salary increases. 

The UOG is taking steps to address this issue by reviewing the current wage structure for academic and non-academic staff by re-implementing the existing staff development programme, and by re-introducing annual increments for staff appraisals. 

This will be executed by the acting management team working together with representatives of the national academic staff association (NASA) and non-academic national staff association (NANSA) bodies to design a performance-based salary structure which will be adopted and implemented by the university.

Chancellor of UOG Benais Sabumei said: “The university has been long overdue for staff and academic reorganisational reviews and I am pleased that the IIC report has focused on these important areas. 

“The university foreshadows many significant changes to the higher educational system, and these decisions will ensure UOG is prepared and ready to accept the challenges ahead.”