The University of Goroka (UOG) is one of the six universities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the largest teacher education institution in the country. It offers a range of academic programs in education, humanities, science and technology, as well as technical and vocational education and training. In this article, we will review the University of Goroka as an employer and explore its achievements, strengths, comparisons and recruitment needs.
About the University of Goroka: Ownership, History, Mission and Activities
The University of Goroka was established in 1997 from the merger of two faculties of the University of Papua New Guinea: the Goroka Teacher’s College and the Faculty of Education. The university is owned by the PNG government and operates under the Higher Education Act 2014. The university’s main campus is located in Goroka, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province, with two satellite campuses in Enga and Sepik. The university has a student population of about 5,000 and a staff of about 5001.
The mission of the University of Goroka is to provide quality education and training that is relevant, accessible and responsive to the needs of PNG and the region. The university aims to produce graduates who are competent, creative, ethical and committed to lifelong learning. The university also strives to conduct research that contributes to knowledge generation, innovation and development2.
The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in three schools: Education, Humanities, and Science and Technology. The programs cover various disciplines such as languages, literature, history, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, agriculture, health sciences, environmental sciences, information technology and engineering. The university also offers diploma and certificate courses in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) through its Institute of TVET. Additionally, the university provides distance and flexible learning options through its Institute of Distance and Flexible Learning (IDFL) for students who cannot attend regular classes3.
The university also runs a consulting arm called UniGor Consultancy Limited, which undertakes projects worth nearly 7 million kina in areas such as curriculum development, teacher training, research and evaluation4.
Highlights and Strengths of the University of Goroka
The University of Goroka has achieved several milestones and accolades over the years. Some of them are:
- In 2019, the university was ranked as the best performing public university in PNG by the Department of Higher Education Research Science & Technology (DHERST), based on its academic quality, governance, financial management and student welfare.
- In 2020, the university was awarded a grant of 10 million kina by the PNG government to establish a Centre for Excellence in Renewable Energy (CERE), which will conduct research and training on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass.
- In 2021, the university launched its first ever online degree program in Bachelor of Education (Primary) through its IDFL. The program is designed to cater for teachers who want to upgrade their qualifications without leaving their jobs or locations.
- In 2021, the university also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the PNG National Research Institute (NRI) to collaborate on research projects that address national development issues such as education policy, governance reform, social protection and climate change.
Some of the strengths of the University of Goroka as an employer are:
- It offers competitive salaries and benefits to its staff, including housing allowance, medical insurance, leave entitlements and superannuation contributions.
- It provides opportunities for professional development and career advancement for its staff through training workshops, seminars, conferences and scholarships.
- It fosters a collegial and supportive work environment that values diversity, inclusion and teamwork.
- It promotes academic freedom and excellence among its staff by encouraging them to pursue research interests, publish papers and books, apply for grants and engage with external stakeholders.
How the University of Goroka Compares with Other Employers in PNG and the World
The University of Goroka is one of the leading employers in PNG’s higher education sector. It competes with other public universities such as the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), Papua New Guinea University of Technology (UNITECH), Divine Word University (DWU), Pacific Adventist University (PAU) and University of Natural Resources & Environment (UNRE). It also faces competition from private institutions such as International Training Institute (ITI), Institute of Business Studies (IBS) and Pacific Institute of Leadership & Governance (PILAG).
According to Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, which measures the online presence and impact of universities worldwide, the University of Goroka ranks 5th among the PNG universities and 10,232nd globally as of July 2021. The ranking is based on indicators such as web visibility, web activity, web transparency and web excellence. The top four PNG universities in the ranking are UPNG, UNITECH, DWU and PAU, while the top four global universities are Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of Oxford.
The University of Goroka also participates in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, which assesses the performance of universities across teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income. The university has been ranked in the 801-1000 band since 2019, along with UPNG and UNITECH. The ranking is based on 13 indicators that are grouped into five categories: teaching (30%), research (30%), citations (30%), international outlook (7.5%) and industry income (2.5%). The top four global universities in the ranking are University of Oxford, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Harvard University and Stanford University.
How Wantokjobs.com Can Help the University of Goroka with Recruitment
Wantokjobs.com is PNG’s leading online job portal that connects employers and job seekers across various sectors and industries. It offers a range of features and services that can help the University of Goroka with its recruitment needs, such as:
- Posting job vacancies on the website and social media platforms, reaching a large and diverse pool of potential candidates.
- Screening and shortlisting candidates based on their qualifications, skills and experience, saving time and resources for the university.
- Providing feedback and guidance to candidates throughout the application process, ensuring a positive and professional experience for them.
- Conducting background checks and reference checks on selected candidates, ensuring their credibility and suitability for the university.
- Negotiating salary and benefits packages with successful candidates, ensuring fair and competitive compensation for them.
- Providing ongoing support and follow-up to both the university and the candidates after placement, ensuring a smooth transition and retention for them.
Wantokjobs.com can also help the University of Goroka with its employer branding and reputation management, such as:
- Creating and updating an employer profile on the website, showcasing the university’s vision, mission, values, achievements, strengths and opportunities.
- Sharing success stories and testimonials from current and former staff members, highlighting the university’s work culture, environment and impact.
- Posting news and updates on the university’s activities, events, projects and achievements, increasing its visibility and awareness among job seekers and stakeholders.
- Responding to reviews and feedback from job seekers and staff members, addressing any issues or concerns and enhancing the university’s image and reputation.
A Positive and Motivating Message for the University of Goroka
The University of Goroka is a prestigious and progressive institution that plays a vital role in PNG’s education sector. It has a proud history of excellence in teaching, research and service to the nation. It has a talented and dedicated staff who are committed to delivering quality education and training to its students. It has a bright future ahead as it continues to innovate, expand and collaborate with local and international partners.
We at Wantokjobs.com are honored to be associated with the University of Goroka as its recruitment partner. We are impressed by its achievements, strengths and potential. We are confident that it will attract and retain the best talent in the market. We are eager to support its growth and development in any way we can.
We congratulate the University of Goroka on its success so far and wish it all the best for its future endeavors. We encourage it to keep up the good work and strive for excellence in everything it does. We look forward to working with it closely and building a long-lasting relationship.
Sources:
1: https://www.unigoroka.ac.pg/
2: https://www.unigoroka.ac.pg/about-us
3: https://www.unigoroka.ac.pg/divisions
4: https://www.unigoroka.ac.pg/news/194-application-forms-2023
: https://postcourier.com.pg/uog-best-performing-public-university/
: https://postcourier.com.pg/uog-to-establish-renewable-energy-centre/
: https://postcourier.com.pg/uog-launches-online-degree-program/
: https://postcourier.com.pg/uog-nri-sign-mou-to-collaborate-on-research/
: https://www.unigoroka.ac.pg/images/2020/Advert/Advert_2020.pdf