Chancellor’s Welcome Message to

Students and Staff for the 2024 Academic

Year
“Nurturing Technocrats and Embracing Innovation”

Dear Members of the Unitech Family,

As we embark on the exci ng journey of the 2024 academic

year at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, it is
with great pleasure and an cipa on that I extend a hear elt
welcome to all students and staff.

To our incoming first-year students, congratula ons on

CG Sam Koim OBE, Chancellor of PNGUoT
securing a coveted spot among more than 31,000 grade 12
students who graduated last year. Your dedica on and hard
work have earned you a place at our esteemed ins tu on.
Over the next four years, your educa on will be a
collabora ve effort, supported not only by your personal
endeavours but also by the contribu ons of your parents,
guardians, the university and the government.

In the ever-evolving landscape of today's world, where the

job market is shrinking and growing more compe ve, the significance of a quality educa on cannot
be overstated. Challenges in gaining admission to university are mirrored by the hurdles of securing
employment a erward. Employers express concerns about the readiness of graduates to enter the
workforce, necessita ng addi onal training to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Recognizing these challenges, Unitech has strategically intervened to enhance the quality and
relevance of the educa on provided. Serving on the Council since 2017, I am proud of the strides we
have taken. Among our key ini a ves, we are delighted to announce that all our engineering courses
have received provisional accredita ons from Engineers Australia—a testament to the high standards
we uphold. Efforts are underway to achieve full accredita on by the end of this year, and we are also
collabora ng with CPA PNG to infuse a work-ready flavour into our business studies courses. All other
professional courses offered by PNGUoT are also in the process of being benchmarked or accredited
to interna onal or industry standards.

Furthermore, we've substan ally increased the Research and Development Budget to foster
meaningful research endeavours led by both academics and students. A university, in essence, should
be a hub where knowledge is created, stored, and distributed. Unitech consistently publishes some of
the best peer-reviewed papers each year, and I encourage you to delve into this rich repository of
knowledge.

To address the prac cal aspects of educa on, we've ini ated a "farming as a business" project, offering
poten al training opportuni es for our students. The farm not only serves as a prac cal learning
ground but also contributes food supplies to the students' mess, embodying an integrated business
model.

Our commitment to good governance is evident in the consecu ve periods of receiving unqualified
(clean) audit reports from the Auditor General. With only a few legacy issues preda ng our me, the
University is in a healthy financial posi on than ever before.

Looking forward, I implore each of you to harness the transforma ve poten al of technology. The
democra za on of knowledge through the internet, ar ficial intelligence, and other tools compels us
to learn swi ly and achieve more in less me. The technological advancements we currently enjoy
were unavailable when some of the individuals who pioneered remarkable inven ons during their
university years—such as Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google), Bill Gates
(Microso ), Paul Allen (Microso ), Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs (Apple), and Evan Spiegel and Bobby
Murphy (Snapchat)—were students.

As a technology-oriented university, we should lead in developing novel ideas to address the

developmental challenges of our na on. The Council and Management of the university are ready to
support innova on, and thus, we encourage scholars and staff to embrace the challenge. I believe that
Papua New Guinea has the poten al to produce some of the most outstanding innovators, hence this
call to ac on.

To our con nuing students and dedicated academic staff, embrace the inherent drive for progress and
produc vity. Each day presents an opportunity for improvement, building upon the achievements of
yesterday, last week, and last year. As we celebrate our past accomplishments, let us press on, for the
best is yet to come!

Those who have a ained greatness share certain traits. Greatness does not befall those unwilling to
commit to hard work and discipline. While God may have grand plans to prosper you, you must be
willing to labour diligently to realize those plans. Allow me to share a personal story that mirrors our
collec ve journey of growth and progress. Whether naviga ng the academic landscape or venturing
into the professional realm, my guiding principle has consistently been a commitment to surpassing
my peers by tenfold. Aspiring to be ten mes ahead of your peers demands a willingness to make
sacrifices and ins ll a disciplined approach into your daily endeavours.

The behaviours and discipline you cul vate during your me at school will inevitably shape the
standards you carry into your future workplace. In this increasingly compe ve world, there is no room
for those who casually gamble with opportuni es. If you take it casually, you will be a casualty!
Therefore, I encourage each of you to recognize the significance of today's choices, as they will
invariably mould your path towards future success. The commitment to excellence and the cul va on
of a strong work ethic now will undoubtedly serve as the founda on for a successful and fulfilling
professional journey.

Stay commi ed, work diligently, and embrace the challenges that come your way, for they are stepping
stones towards your goals.
Best wishes for a rewarding and transforma ve academic year and May God Bless you all.

Warm regards,

Sam Koim, OBE

Chancellor