Medium Term Development Plan, 2011-2015 - UNDP in Papua New ...

3.5 Higher education
Goal:
To develop the higher skills needed for PNG’s prosperity with a world class tertiary
education sector
Introduction
Papua New Guinea’s higher education institutions made significant contributions to nation building in the
early years of PNG’s independence. The universities and colleges adequately met the extraordinary demands
that were placed on them during this time, providing well educated leaders for public institutions and skilled
personnel for other important spheres of society. They can do so again but, right now, the quantity and
quality of graduates is far short of what is needed due to inadequate resources and a range of governance and
general service quality issues. Major changes in the institutions of higher education are necessary if PNG is to
be successful in meeting the challenges set in the Vision 2050 and the PNGDSP 2010-2030. Over the next 20
years, the Government aims to develop the higher skills needed for PNG’s prosperity with a world class
tertiary education sector. Having a national manpower plan in place to estimate the required number of
personnel in technical and professional fields — such as medical doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers — is
crucial to overcome the problem of uncoordinated and fragmented provisions of higher education.
MTDP 2011-2015
In the next five years institutions of higher education will be moving down the path towards self-financing
with the establishment of a Higher Education Endowment Fund. The Higher Education Endowment Fund
Trust will become a major source of funding for new capital investment, maintenance of faculties, twinning
arrangements with foreign institutions, industrial partnership, course field work and a wide range of
scholarships to meet the needs of both industry and the public service. The priority expenditure areas of the
Fund will be clearly outlined and managed by the Commission for Higher Education, under the general
supervision of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring. The Fund will be financed by
contributions from the universities business’ arms, contributions from the private sector, revenue from a
Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), the 2 per cent training levy, and assistance from development
partners. The Government will provide support for the Fund during the first MTDP while the HECS scheme is
set up and until the HECS scheme generates sufficient revenues.
The introduction of a government-supported loans scheme to students in the form of HECS will enable higher
education students to defer the cost of their studies. The HECS scheme will provide loans to cover tuition fees
imposed by universities, accommodation, plus a specified maximum “incidentals allowance”. Public funding
for higher education will be realigned towards targeted training scholarships. Together with other measures,
the National Government will help provincial and district authorities to establish scholarship systems for their
students.
Before investing in the expansion of universities and colleges, the Government will fund the recapitalisation of
existing institutions and will also ensure they have the management capacity to oversee the expansion. The
focus of government funding will therefore be on raising the quality of graduates. To this end, the Government
will also support universities to improve internet access and communication technologies, and to forge strong
partnerships with relevant stakeholders (both within and outside PNG), including dialogue with PNG industry.
The Government will ensure that all training standards are aligned to the PNG National Qualification
Framework by 2015.
Building on MTDP 2011-2015
Under subsequent MTDPs, the expansion of universities, technical colleges, business colleges, polytechnic
colleges, teachers’ colleges, nursing colleges and vocational training institutions will be the focus of
government priorities. Forging partnerships with relevant stakeholders and engaging in twinning
arrangements with reputable international institutions of higher education will also be encouraged and
supported.
Challenges in implementation
The higher education sector in PNG has been faced with many challenges and difficulties relating to
insufficient financing of higher education institutions, quality and access to tertiary education, staff
development, skills-based training, enhancement and preservation of quality in teaching, research and
services, relevance of programs, employability of graduates, establishment of efficient co-operation
agreements, and equitable access to the benefits of international co-operation. External challenges include
adequate provision of key utilities (water, sanitation, telecommunications, electrification and information and
communication technology) for higher education institutions.
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