Unitech expansion puts pressure on campus infrastructure

The Papua New Guinea University of Technology is expanding its engineering programmes.

But the university says its infrastructure must grow with it.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi raised the concern during the launch of the new School of Petroleum Engineering in Lae.

The school will take its first Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering with Honours students in 2027.

Renagi said the programme was a direct response to the growing demand for skilled engineers in the petroleum and energy sectors.

However, introducing new programmes and increasing student numbers will put pressure on the university's existing facilities.

More student accommodation will be needed.

So will classrooms, laboratories, staff housing and other support facilities.

"Growth in academic programmes and student numbers must be met by investment in infrastructure," Renagi said.

The Petroleum Engineering programme is part of a wider expansion at Unitech.

The university plans to introduce Aerospace Engineering and Computer Engineering in 2027.

Railway and tunnelling courses are also planned under Civil Engineering.

Agricultural Mechanisation is expected to follow.

Renagi said the programmes were designed to meet the changing skills needs of the country.

But, the university cannot deliver that expansion without support from government and industry.

He is calling on the government, mining and petroleum industries to work with Unitech on infrastructure development.

Renagi pointed to the earlier partnership between government and the mining industry that helped establish the Mining Engineering School.

He said the same approach could be used to support the new Petroleum Engineering School.

The Vice-Chancellor has also made a direct appeal to Prime Minister James Marape to consider transferring the Telecom College facilities to Unitech.

He said the facilities could help the university manage its expansion and increase its capacity to train skilled workers.

Unitech is also looking beyond Papua New Guinea.

The university wants to attract students from the Pacific and Asia through its internationally accredited engineering programmes.

Renagi said the university's ambition was to become globally competitive while continuing to produce engineers who can contribute to Papua New Guinea's development.

But as more programmes come on stream, the pressure is now shifting from what Unitech can teach to whether it has enough space and facilities to teach them.