THE Popondetta campus of PNG University of Natural Resources & Environment (UNRE) has resorted to using Telikom x’cess phones to ease communication difficulties.
This was the initiative of campus information communication & technology (ICT) officer John Uralele, who submitted a proposal to campus director Jack Lapauve after continuous communication difficulties.
His submission was approved and x’cess phones have been purchased and distributed to the campus’s 15 sections, making communication in and outside the campus more convenient.
Phone units are purchased and distributed to the sections on a monthly basis. This arrangement is similar to that of the University’s main campus in Vudal where sections with direct lines are only able to use their phones with monthly allocations of Telikom’s Rait Prepaid cards.
Mr Uralele’s presence at UNRE Popondetta since his transfer from UNRE Vudal last year has boosted ICT services there. The student’s computer laboratory now has 18 computers from four computers.
He is hoping to get another 22 computers repaired as soon as main campus approves funding for the quotation he has submitted.
He said all University assets under the care of the ICT office such as laptops and multimedia projectors have been recorded and are strictly managed using an inventory database he developed.
Mr Uralele developed new serial numbers for items without serial numbers and now has an accurate record of all equipment.
He said this would ensure that there is no more stealing of equipments.
Students and staff now also have access to printing of assignments and tests, with the establishment of the ICT office. Students for the first time have also been issued meal cards for entry to the mess.
Mr Uralele said UNRE Popondetta is still waiting on main campus for the Broadband system, but added it would be a good revenue source for the University as there is a huge need for internet services in the province.
Another project this one-man section aims to achieve is to repair the existing TV disks on the campus for use.