The Department of Higher Education Research Science Technology’s Digitalisation Strategy aims at transforming the higher and technical education sector into a diverse and growing network at a cost of K81 million over five years.
However, the budget appropriation for 2023 is K59.3 million, Minister for the Department of Education Research Science Technology (DHERST) Don Polye said.
He said the overall policy goal for digitalisation is to connect and transform the higher and technical sector through digitalisation of management and service functions and enhance access to higher and technical education and research through digital platforms.
Mr Polye said the digitalisation roll-out to the provinces and the 89 districts will provide an e-teaching and learning platform that is accessible to all students.
He said the successful delivery of digital education services requires significant capacity development and adaption in teaching and learning processes to ensure they are people-led rather than technology-led innovation and transformation.
We are looking at models such as Japan National Broadcasting University offering online tertiary qualification for over 50 years and also Malaysian National University.
Mr Polye
Mr Polye said the aspects of this broad digitalisation plan has been implemented which includes the national online application system and national online selection system which have replaced the manual school leaver form (SFL) and selection of Grade 12 school leavers. The Higher Education Loan Program is also digitalised.
He said the department will venture into partnering with ICT service providers such as DataCo, Telikom and mobile companies and other for provision of affordable and reliable internet services to higher and technical education institutions.
He said DHERST has undertaken ICT capacity assessment for 18 institutions as pilot project to establish current capacities and what is required.
Mr Polye said he intends to implement a phased-approach to digitalising management and service function within his ministry over the next five years and that includes:
- Develop a digitalisation strategy and implementation plan for the sector including the PNG National Open University;
- Digitalise DHERST systems and processes;
- Implement national online application and selection system in PNG; and
- Provision of internet service to cover at least 50 per cent of public higher and technical education institution.
He said to implement this phased approach to digitalise the sector will require an investment of K81 million over five years and these will include internet connectivity, e-library, database management system and infrastructure.