First Students At

P-Ng University

To Start Soon

From a Port Moresby Correspondent

Papua-New Guinea’s embryo

university will have its be ginnings in Port Moresby on February 7, when about 80 students are expected to start a year of preliminary studies

in English Language, Science,

Maths and the Humanities.

ALL the students have finished fourth form at secondary school.

The year of preliminary studies is designed to take them to matricula tion standard.

Successful students will go on to the first year of the full course to begin in March next year.

The preliminary year will be con ducted by the Administrative College in Port Moresby. The college will continue to conduct the classes until the university is a physical fact.

The pace of the university’s develop ment will largely depend on its Vice- Chancellor, Dr. John Gunther.

In the meantime, the university students at the Administrative Col lege—most of them male—will be accommodated in buildings converted for the purpose in the Ward’s Strip valley.

Lecturers Interviewed

Principal of the college, Mr. David Chenoweth, visited Sydney, Mel bourne and Canberra in late January to interview senior lecturers and tutors for this first year. His recom mendations were to go to the Interim Council of the university for final consideration.

The people being interviewed were on a short list and were available “on standby” for Port Moresby if required for the opening in February.

Officers close to the university have been surprised at the high quality of the staff presenting itself for selection.

With much competition for good academic staff, it was thought that sufficient people of the right calibre might be hard to find for the wilds of Port Moresby.

Appointees for some Chairs are expected to be announced at a meet ing of the Interim Council in Port Moresby in early February, when the name of the Vice-Chancellor is also expected to be announced officially.