One Developing World University’s Faith in Technology to Deliver

Adopting solar technology

In early November 2010, the President of Divine Word University (DWU), Papua New Guinea (PNG), Fr Jan Czuba, outlined the key challenges the university was likely to face in 2011 and asked how as a team the staff could face these going forward:

·         We need to explore ways in which we can contribute to the achievement of National Vision 2050.

·         How can we increase the enrolment at our university?

·         Do we have the necessary policy to ensure quality of research, teaching, learning and community service?

·         What is our progress to become a paperless and green university?

·         Are we incorporating ICT into our teaching, learning?

Contained in the challenges are competing realities that DWU must confront and manage. If it wants to be a reliable and leading national and regional higher education player, DWU has to increase access. It must do so whilst keeping costs down, assuring quality and being socially responsible. These are big calls for a university that is not financially well-endowed and one operating in a financially stringent environment. 

However, DWU management is leveraging technology including ICT, prudent financial management, and the policy mechanism to respond to the demands and manage risks. The technology and policy strategies adopted include:

• promoting e-learning as evidenced in the provision of laptops with Internet access to students; as well as the promotion amongst  staff to incorporate e-learning technologies in teaching and learning.
• the promotion and use of solar-technology and energy-saving devices.  The project to light up its campuses with solar lighting is being rolled out. (picture above)
• adopting energy efficient and paper minimisation policies

More information on DWU can be sought from: http://www.dwu.ac.pg