The Research Committee serves as a liason between persons engaged in research and the Administration of the School.
Duties and responsibilities
- To advise the Dean, through the Executive Council, on the implementation of administrative programs and policies instituted for the support of research.
- To receive and disseminate information from the DEan's office on issues that impact research.
- To serve as a forum for the discussion of improvement and expansion of research activity.
- To communicate needs or problems related to research environment to the Dean's office.
- To make recommendations for the coordination of programs to enhance research and the researcch environment.
- To make recommendations for the coordination of activities with other committiees involved with Research.
- To promote the dissemination of information regarding research at the School.
- To promote collaborative Research.
THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD
TERMS OF REFERENCE
In order that research activities within the University may be encouraged, coordinated, funded and monitored efficiently, the Academic Board set up a Research Committee under the following
terms of references:
(a)To promote and encourage research and development;
(b)To formulate an overall research policy and appropriate guidelines;
(c)To allocate funds for research and development within the University;
(d)To prepare an annual report on the research conducted by the University.
CONSTITUTION
Ex-Officio Members
a.Vice Chancellor
b.Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic)
Appointed Members
c.One person appointed by the vice Chancellor who shall be the Chairman of the Committee
d.Six persons appointed biennially by the Academic Board
RESEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Ex-Officio Members
Dr Albert Schram
Associate Professor Augustine Moshi
Appointed Members
Associate Professor Augustine Moshi(Chairman)
Professor S . Akanda
Dr. G. Arpa
Dr. K. Pirapaharan
Dr. K. Mulung
Dr. S. Gopalakrishnan
InAttendance
Deputy Bursar
Mr Gabriel Paul, Executive Officer
Research Committee Guidelines
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology produced its first Research Committee Guidelines in 1986. The Guidelines were revised in 1994 with the aim to promote research activities in line with the Mission of the University. The following activities were emphasized for promotion of research.
- Monthly Research seminars
- Quarterly Research Newsletter: Research NIUS
- Short Term Research Fellowships
- Consideration and approval of Research Project grants
- Consideration and approval of Conference Funding for presentation of papers
The research activities mentioned above suffered a number of setbacks due to financial problems encountered by the University since the floating /devaluation since 1995 of the PNG currency Kina. In real terms, the State grant to the University at one stage was reduced to just about 50%. As a result, there has been high turnover of qualified academic staff, mainly expatriate. Some national staff also left the University for Jobs in industry which offered better remuneration package. Consequently, Research NIUS was discontinued due to lack of contributions from academics, Short Term Fellowship was not implemented due to shortage of fund, and research grants and conference funding were severely limited. In pursuance of the strategic goal of scholarship character improvement of the University, research and postgraduate teaching activities were gradually improved since 2005 due to better State grant and more favorable exchange rate. Academic departments were encouraged to offer postgraduate programs including those based on research. Introduction of Graduate Assistantship Program (GAP) to encourage national staff to undertake postgraduate studies, and revision of research and conference funding are among some of the initiatives undertaken by the Research Committee since 2005.
The Research Committee has again reviewed the research policy document with the objective of promoting research activities leading to enhanced research culture in the University. The new policies stipulate development of a corporate research plan, mandatory research plans
in all academic departments, promotion of departmental seminars, restoration of University Seminar series, increased upper limit of research funding for postgraduate research, allowing GAP scholars to attend in-country conferences, increased level of conference funding . In addition, academic departments will be required to identify research focus areas relevant to Papua New Guinea. Young researchers will be given training in research Methodology, proposal writing, scientific writing, etc. The revised policy has been approved by the Academic Board.
