Albert Schram begins to tackle grievances at Unitech
29 April 2014
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL
THE newly re-installed vice chancellor of Papua New Guinea's University of Technology, Dr Albert Schram, says he's taking immediate measures to resolve long standing grievances.
Dr Schram has been back at the university in Lae for three weeks after being forced out of the country over a year ago after the university council took issue with a reform program he was undertaking.
He is back after students’ boycotted classes and staged other protests, demanding that he be re-instated as vice chancellor and given a visa to enable his return to PNG.
Dr Schram said he is not taking an aggressive approach but addressing urgent concerns for staff and students.
"The staff has been promised a salary review several times, so that is quite a heavy process that we must start soon.
“For the students, we can make some improvements which will quickly improve their living and learning experience on campus," Dr Schram said.
So what happened afterwards? We did dorm renovation, improved messing services (biometric access), refurbished dormitories, and built fences for enhanced security. On 1 July 2015 we got reliable broadband internet.
Salary review we implemented 7.5% pay increase in 2014-2016, now 2017-2019 3% pay increase.
Hopefully with the new Minister DHERST Hon. Niningi we can sort out the governance issues, and work on the salary review.
Our internationalisation strategy paid off. We got workshops on better teaching, and 3 Faculty returning with a PhD in 2016.
We sent several Faculty to Europe and India to do PhDs. Students are getting better teaching in a more positive learning environment.
Posted by: Albert Schram | 02 November 2017 at 09:34 PM
We did dorm renovation, improved messing services (biometric access), refurbished dormitories, and built fences for enhanced security. On 1 July 2015 we got reliable broadband internet.
Salary review we implemented 7.5% pay increase in 2014-201t, now 2017-2019 3% pay increase. Salary review still in progress.
Posted by: Albert Schram | 01 November 2017 at 09:54 PM
We need "leaders" and "managers" at all levels to simply chip away a manageable chunk at a time, doing the mundane and sometimes everyday tasks, prioritising them and showing the way.
The question which can also be a lesson for us all is: Why did the students want back Schram so bad?
Yes we are eager to hear from Unitech ...or maybe the silence (?) is that things are going so well.
Posted by: John Kaupa Kamasua | 29 April 2014 at 07:24 PM
Eh, pasin b'long Penge ya, taim sikin i kirap, save pairap pairap.
Taim Penge kisim liklik kaikai b'long em, pasim maus na sindaun nating.
Democracy, Justice & Liberty we speak of these things as if they are only Rights.
"Fools, say I, you do not know. / Silence like a cancer grows."
They are a Responsibility.
Democracy, Justice & Liberty requires Intelligence, Vigilance & Diligence.
We'll only get out what we put in.
Posted by: Michael Dom | 29 April 2014 at 03:19 PM
Why do we have to rely on "Radio New Zealand" for "good news" out of Unitech?
Where are the student and academic writers at Unitech who should be following up their successful campaign to achieve the return of their Vice-Chancellor with justification of their cause.
Now they should be telling the world (through PNG Attitude) about the good things happening. They should be wary that their work is not finished lest they fall asleep and the thief returns in the night.
__________
Laurence, as usual, makes some very good points - KJ
Posted by: Laurence Quinlivan | 29 April 2014 at 11:35 AM