Welcome & Overview
Staff Learning & Development is a pivotal component of the PNG University of Technology, ensuring that both students and staff benefit from a culture of continuous academic excellence. The institution is committed to fostering ongoing professional development and qualification upgrades for its staff, reinforcing its dedication to high standards in education and research.
As the University implements its Strategic Plan, Staff Learning and Career Development remains a key function of human resource management, directly contributing to the achievement of institutional objectives. The overarching goal of Learning & Development is to enhance academic excellence and overall performance, ensuring that the University continues to thrive as a center of knowledge, innovation, and professional growth.
Ms. Samantha Honeakii
SAR - Career Development Office
Our Commitment to Your Growth
- Unitech’s dedication to continuous learning and professional development.
The PNG University of Technology is committed to providing training programs that equip staff with the right knowledge, skills, and attributes to enhance individual performance. This commitment directly contributes to achieving organizational effectiveness and sustaining academic excellence.
Key objectives of the Staff Learning & Development initiative include:
- Offering structured training programs that enhance staff competencies, ensuring they meet both academic and administrative demands.
- Supporting staff in upgrading qualifications by pursuing diploma-to-degree study programs, including Master’s and PhD programs, to enhance their expertise and teaching quality.
- Maintaining satisfactory ROI on staff completing advanced degrees annually.
- Ensuring that training programs are delivered by competent, registered, and accredited institutions both in-country and internationally.
Through this strategic training plan, the University aims to foster a culture of continuous professional growth, ensuring staff can deliver high-quality services, teaching, and student learning experiences
Career Development Process for PNGUoT Employees
The PNG University of Technology (PNGUoT) adopts a systematic approach to Staff Training and Development, ensuring employees receive structured training, mentoring, coaching, and instruction. This process equips staff with relevant skills and knowledge to enhance competency, build capacity, and foster continuous professional development, ultimately improving performance and driving the achievement of institutional goals and objectives.
The Training Plan serves as a strategic blueprint, guiding the University in identifying staff training needs and approving relevant programs essential for professional growth. As part of the Strategic Plan 2020–2024, upgrading functional and operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through staff training remains a priority.
All training activities and arrangements are aligned with the Learning and Development Plan (2020–2024), the Staff Development and Training Policy & Procedures Manual (4th Edition), and relevant government regulations. These frameworks ensure the effective administration of staff training and development activities, supporting the University’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional effectiveness
Our Development Programs
In 2023, the Management and Leadership Training Plan was developed to support the achievement of Strategic Domain 1.1 (v) and (vi) and Strategic Domain 4.1 (i) of the Strategic Plan 2020–2024. This training initiative is designed to enhance leadership capabilities across all levels of management, from senior executives to junior supervisors, ensuring effective leadership, operational efficiency, and sustained performance excellence.
The training program aims to:
- Promote good governance in leadership.
- Empower leaders in leadership roles, decision-making, and management skills of senior executives, middle managers, and junior supervisors.
- Enhance Performance by equipping managers and team leaders with the necessary skills to inspire and maintain positive performance across departments.
- Improve Organizational Effectiveness by fostering a culture of strong governance, accountability, and operational excellence.
Implementation Approach
The first step in implementing this training plan was the Induction Course for the Unitech Governing Council Members, a mandatory program endorsed by NEC Decision No. 61/2021. This course ensures that Council Members and the Senior Executive Management Team are well-versed in governance principles guiding leaders in state agencies and institutions.
To sustain continuous professional development, PNGUoT will continue investing in Seminars, Workshops, and Short Courses aimed at upskilling and enhancing management capabilities across all leadership levels.
Professionalism and Staff Skills Development at PNGUoT
- At PNG University of Technology, staff are expected to uphold exceptional interpersonal skills and professional etiquette, reflecting the high standards of the institution. As a leading center of higher learning, all staff must contribute to an image of excellence, both in academic and professional conduct.
- Skills training is offered to staff and is fully supported and funded by PNGUoT, ensuring that all employees have access to development opportunities aimed at enhancing their skills and enriching their professional abilities. This initiative underscores the University’s commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth for its staff.
Competency-Based and Technical Skills Training
- PNGUoT actively promotes competency-based training as a cornerstone for staff development, particularly through technical skills upgrades in specialized fields and trades. These trainings are delivered in block courses through TVET programs, in collaboration with reputable Technical Skills Training providers.
The primary aim of these programs is to enhance skills in key areas, including:
- Technical Officers: Improving their ability to assist in lectures, manage laboratory tools, and operate equipment and machinery effectively.
- IT & Software Management: Ensuring proficiency in operating essential IT software and systems.
- Laboratory Technology: Developing expertise in handling and managing specialized laboratory tools and technologies.
Through these training programs, PNGUoT seeks to equip its staff with the practical and technical expertise required to maintain high-quality operations and contribute to the institution’s success.
Professional Certification and Continuous Learning
At PNG University of Technology, Professional Certification is strongly supported, with resources allocated to assist staff in pursuing relevant certificate programs in their respective fields. This support is integral to the university’s commitment to fostering a highly skilled and competent workforce.
The process of obtaining professional certification is designed to be long-term, structured, and continuous, allowing individuals to develop their competencies gradually through a progressive learning pathway. Training programs are organized into levels, ensuring that staff members can enhance their skills over time and earn qualifications that align with their professional growth.
- Basic Level
- Intermediate Level
- Advanced Level
This system of continuous training and professional certification not only enhances individual performance but also aligns with the institution’s broader goals of excellence and innovation in teaching, research, and administration.
Staff training is directly tied to the Performance Management System of the University. Training needs are also identified through the performance evaluation process, ensuring that the training is relevant to the staff member’s specific developmental requirements. The recommended training programs are designed to address these needs, whether that involves enhancing technical skills, improving leadership capabilities, or developing other competencies necessary for the employee’s success
Section Goals
- Goal 1: Provide training programs with the right knowledge, skills, and attributes to improve individual performances in achieving organizational effectiveness and academic excellence.
- Goal 2: Successful training completion rate with PhD and Masters graduates ever year.
- Goal 3: Staff qualification upgrade for performance improvement to deliver quality services, teaching and student learning.
- Goal 4: Training programs and courses provided are achievable through this training plan from competent, registered and recognized training providers both in-country and overseas.
Career Advancement Opportunities
The University promotes qualification upgrade for career advancements. The Career Development Office believe that every employee should be given the opportunity to excel in their career. The University supports staff from certificate and diploma level to upgrade qualifications to undergraduate degree, Masters and PhD. Staff can be eligible to apply for promotion as a career advancement.
At PNG University of Technology, the institution is committed to promoting career advancement through qualification upgrades. The Career Development Office believes that every employee should have the opportunity to excel and advance in their careers.
The University supports staff members at all levels by offering opportunities for them to upgrade their qualifications, whether from certificate and diploma levels to undergraduate degrees, Master’s, or PhDs. This commitment to education and professional growth ensures that staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in their roles.
Additionally, staff members who pursue and complete these qualifications are eligible to apply for promotions, further supporting their career advancement within the institution. This initiative fosters a culture of continuous learning, helping staff achieve their personal and professional goals while contributing to the overall success of the University
At PNG University of Technology, Job Rotation is an integral part of the staff development strategy, aimed at fostering diverse experiences and broadening skillsets across various departments. Job rotation allows staff to gain exposure to different roles and responsibilities within the institution, enhancing their professional development and providing a well-rounded understanding of the University’s operations. The job rotation program is processed through the HR Personal section but will be incorporated into the Learning and Development Plan 2025- 2029.
The career development office takes into consideration staff contract renewal and promotion when supporting staff training and development. The main focus on upskilling and qualification upgrades is to encourage career advancement and is achieved through promotion exercises.
Staff are encouraged to pursue higher degrees not only for performance improvement and career advancement but to boost self-esteem, as a means of award and having a sense of appreciation. We provide the opportunity to staff to embrace training as a means of self-discovery in identifying their potential of being marketable once they are qualified through training. With PNGUOT, we allow staff to grow in their career within the institution, though there are other opportunities like Secondment with external industries, we believe in developing our staff and retaining our talents.
Our Learning Resources
Staff are allowed to choose different modes of delivery of training and online training programs are one. Online programs through flexible modes and distant learning are provided remotely to the participants with lessons and coursework completed through online participation.
- Access to books, journals, and research papers.
Please contact Matheson Library for more details.
We have a training & development plan that captures all departmental training needs and training programs. Workshops and Seminars are annual programs that are provided to the Career Development Office by each departmental heads and training coordinators. With the overall focus on long-term training programs, the workshops and seminars are supported by the LNSDC upon EOI presented by the HODs.
Testimonials
The Career Development Programs at PNG University of Technology have transformed the professional journeys of many dedicated staff members. Through qualification upgrades and training, employees have advanced in their careers, taking on greater responsibilities and contributing significantly to the institution. Below are a few success stories from staff members who have benefited from these programs.
The Personnel Section maintains detailed records of all staff who have benefited from the Career Development Programs and have been promoted as a result of their training and qualification upgrades.
These success stories highlight PNGUoT’s commitment to empowering its staff through continuous learning and career development, ensuring that the institution remains a leader in academic and administrative excellence.
Forms & Documents
- Document Type: Document
- Download Form Here: LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2020 – 2024
- Document/Version No:UoT-HR-PER-FM-001
- Version Date: 03/04/2024
- Description of Document: PNG University of Technology is embarking on implementing the Strategic Plan and the Learning and Development Plan is Staff Training and Career development is an important function of human resource management and is essential to improving the performance of the organization through staff training. PNGUoT’s Staff Training and Development is a systematic approach where employees are trained, mentored, coached, instructed, and taught relevant skills and knowledge to increase competency, build capacity, enhanced professional skills and development for continuous improvement in performance to drive the achievement of relevant organizational goals and objectives. This training plan is designed to serve as a blueprint, providing the LNSDC a strategic approach in recognizing staff training needs and approving relevant training necessary for staff to attend. With the implementation of the strategic plan 2020 – 2024, upgrading of functional and operational KPIs through staff training is also important This Training Plan will apply in conjunction with the Staff Development and Training Policy Procedures Manual (4th Edition), and other relevant government regulations in administering the staff training and development activities.
Meet the Team
Ms. Samantha Hoeakii
Senior Assistant Registrar (SAR) - Career Development Office.
Ms. Nora Apimia
Lead – Talent Management
Ms. Sonia Kenute
Senior Administration Assistant - Organizational Development
Ms. Deanthe Gawi
Administration Officer - Learning and Development & Scholarships