Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) has announced a major change in its tuition fee payment protocols: effective immediately, the university will no longer accept “bulk” payments from provincial governments or sponsors on behalf of groups of students, citing reconciliation and accountability issues, The National reports.
Policy Backdrop & Financial Flow
UPNG’s Vice-Chancellor, Ian Findlay, clarified that the university registered over 7,000 students annually across its five schools and Open Learning Colleges, making traditional bulk payments impractical.
Findlay explained that bulk payments which fail to identify the specific students they sponsor “cause substantial delay and disappointment” in student account processing.
What’s Changing – The New Payment Protocols
According to the statement:
- UPNG will no longer accept cheques for tuition fees, aligning with guidance from the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
- The university has ended the practice of accepting bulk payments into its tuition-fee bank accounts.
- Under the new system, sponsors must pay directly into each student’s account, and then the student applies the funds to UPNG.
- Online fee payments will now trigger online registration, meaning the payment and registration processes become more tightly linked.
Recent Incident – K343,500 Re-Payment
UPNG confirmed it received K343,500 from the Eastern Highlands Province government on 9 October under the previous bulk-payment method.
Vice-Chancellor Findlay said the university is “happy to return” these funds to the province so that the distribution can happen directly to students in line with the new policy.
Why the Change Matters
- Transparency & Accountability: Direct payments help clearly link sponsor funds to specific students, reducing administrative confusion.
- Efficiency & Speed: The streamlined system prevents delays in student account reconciliation that arise when bulk payments lack individual identifiers.
- Equity & Fairness: With students paying and registering individually, it reduces risks of funds misallocation or students being disadvantaged by delayed reconciliation.
Implications for Students & Sponsors
- Students must now ensure their sponsors deposit directly into their individual accounts, not via UPNG’s bulk account.
- Sponsors (including provincial governments) should coordinate with each student to make payments correctly to avoid registration delays.
- Provincial governments and sponsors that still attempt bulk payments may need to return funds or be guided on how to comply with the new policy.
- Awareness efforts: UPNG plans to send further reminders to sponsors about the updated payment protocols.
Looking Ahead
UPNG has effectively reset its payment system, placing the onus on individual student-sponsor interactions rather than institutional bulk transfers. For the upcoming academic year, students and sponsors are advised to act early, follow the new guidelines, and complete payment and registration steps in tandem to avoid administrative hiccups.
For more details or clarification, students and sponsors should consult UPNG’s official communications or contact the university’s finance and registration offices directly.