Degree Courses
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Programme
The Department of Agriculture offers a four-year course, which leads to the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSAG). Entry to the course is completion of the Grade 12 School Certificate (or equivalent) level only. The programme prepares the student for a wide variety of agricultural and agriculturally related occupations in PNG. These include teaching, research, advisory and technical positions both in government and private industry as well as in numerous other areas for which the offered courses in agriculture and related sciences are deemed essential.
About one‑third of the instructional time is devoted to study in the biological, physical and social sciences, including rural sociology and two‑thirds to the study of agriculture and agricultural sciences. The interaction between agricultural activity and the quality of environment is emphasised throughout the course.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Apply scientific knowledge, skills and technology to sustain and improve crop and animal production,
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of basic concepts and fundamental principles that underpin agricultural production,
- Demonstrate an understanding of the socio-economic benefits and values of natural resources in agriculture,
- Understand the policies of other stakeholders that support agricultural production at the national and international level,
- Demonstrate and apply entrepreneurial skills and knowledge in agricultural projects,
- Communicate agricultural ideas and information using appropriate agricultural extension methods and technologies and
- Identify and address issues affecting farm management for improvement.
Industrial Training
All students enrolled in the degree programme are required to undertake industrial training in third year for a full semester. During this time students are placed in various agricultural organisations to gain firsthand experience in the workplace.
Bachelor of Agriculture and Rural Development (BARD)
Recently, the PNG Government through the Office of Higher Education (OHE) instituted policy changes in higher learning institutions to address human resource requirements of this nation. One of these initiatives is for institutions to externalize their on-campus academic programs through Open, Flexible and Distance learning mode. In response to this policy shift in the formal education sector, the Department of Agriculture developed a two-year degree program. The program is named “Bachelor of Agriculture and Rural Development (BARD)”. This program is delivered both through distance learning mode and residential sessions, which are conducted every end of year.
The BARD program essentially caters for agriculture professionals who have had training up to Diploma and Post Certificate Diploma (PCD) levels, but for reasons, haven’t had the opportunity to further their agriculture education. The curriculum of BARD has been developed with a blend of knowledge in agricultural science and production, and rural development and extension. Hence, the graduates of this program are guaranteed to have attained the core concepts of the profession as their counterpart graduates from the full-time on-campus program.
It is envisaged that graduates of BARD program, who are employed as researchers, teachers, managers, and rural development and extension officers will continue to excel and contribute towards the overall development of PNG. Upon completion of the course, it is expected that the graduates will have acquired the knowledge and skills relating to:
- The current developments in science and socio-economic aspects of agriculture and appreciate their roles in impacting change in both urban and rural communities.
- The planning, establishment and management of activities in sustainable agricultural production systems.
- Planning and implementation of agricultural programs in secondary and intermediate learning institutions, and rural farming community.
- Planning and conducting research into temporal and spatial agriculture problems for necessary changes.
- The processes involved in agricultural project planning, implementation and evaluation for efficiency and continuity.
- Overall analysis and mitigation of challenging agricultural issues for positive progress in the sector.
The BARD program completed its maiden year, 2011, where it went through two residential sessions and one distance mode semester. The program has so far attracted applicants from across the nation with differing agricultural expertise, experience and seniority. We expect the pioneer students to complete their studies at the end of 2012 academic year and graduate come graduation ceremony in April, 2013.
The Department considers this program an opportune process whereby it can actively participate in imparting agricultural knowledge and skills to a wider populace in PNG for the empowerment of both urban and rural communities.
Postgraduate Programs
Food security is a function of self-sufficiency. The higher a country’s self-sufficiency, the lower the likelihood that its food security will be compromised. This justifies for a strong domestic production and reinforces the importance of agriculture in PNG. There is no substitute for the highly qualified, confident and dedicated agricultural scientists to meet the challenges of 21st century agriculture. The Department of Agriculture is in the fore front to train the future cadets with required theoretical and practical knowledge to take part in the nation building process.
The Department of Agriculture of the PNG University of Technology has been playing a leading role in providing postgraduate training in different areas of agriculture. Over the years, these training programs were not only intensified in their offering but got diverse in the nature of postgraduate trainings. The current postgraduate programs include:the Master of Science (MSc), the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) aimed at meeting the manpower needs of Papua New Guinea. The students can further their knowledge in professional areas including: Crop Production, Animal Production, Crop Protection, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension & Rural Development, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering and Post-harvest technologies.
Introduction of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Scholarship Scheme in 2005 opened up the new era in terms of PG teaching, research and supervision. Almost every academic staff had the opportunity to supervise and teach the students in the post graduate program. It is the time to cherish and take advantage of the strength the department has in terms of postgraduate training and research to build a future. The department wants to take the coordinated and holistic approach which is in line with the Unitech’s vision of developing the scholarship characters in terms of research and postgraduate training.
The MPhil program can be completed by research thesis and is instituted for those who have a lot of field experience. The MSc programs will be a two year course based program with a research thesis component. This program is targeted for young graduates who wish to develop a professional career in teaching, research and/or in the related industries.
The Department has a vibrant, inclusive, energetic and highly dedicated team of 16 academics 11 of whom with PhD capable to take any challenge in terms of postgraduate research and training. The University is in close proximity to the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) which employs the competent agricultural scientists. By building a partnership between Unitech and NARI, the NARI scientists will be a further synergistic complement to the Departmental academic staff.
Find out more about our Post Graduate School.
Research
The Department has concentrated research on selected food crops and small animals in the past. This is in line with the national government's shift in emphasis from plantation crops to food crops and livestock. For the last few years a research team representing different disciplines has been doing research on Rice. For the coming years, the emphasis of research will be on rice and other crops and small animals. With the expanded and coordinated research work on food crops and livestock proposed under the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), there is room for collaborative research between our staff and those of NARI and the agricultural industries.
Objectives of the research program are:
1. To understand existing systems of production in the subsistence or traditional sector and to come up with viable production technologies that will improve the traditional production system in PNG. Such an approach entails inter-disciplinary teams.
2. Identifying problems of production and aiming for goal-orientated research for specific sites with on‑farm adaptive trials. Since the University is located in the lowlands, the Department will contribute to lowland systems in the first instance.
3. To look at intensification potential with a view to commercial production.
Master of Science in Agriculture
The M.Sc. degree in agriculture is a full time program of studies extending over four academic semesters (two years). The students will be taking the courses as per the schedule and will be completing a research work, written and submitted as a thesis.
Master of Philosophy in Agriculture
To successfully complete the Master of Philosophy degree in Agriculture (M.Phil), candidates must exhibit scholarly pursuit of further study and complete a research, written and submitted in the form of a high quality dissertation. An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of M.Phil. shall have either a Merit degree or Post Graduate Diploma of the PNG University of Technology or of a tertiary institution approved by the PNG University of Technology or a Bachelor’s degree of Honours standard of a tertiary institution approved by the PNG University of Technology.
Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture
To successfully complete the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Agriculture, candidates must exhibit scholarly pursuit of further study and complete a research, written and submitted in the form of a high quality dissertation. An applicant for admission for the degree of Ph.D. shall have either a Master’s degree of the University or of any other tertiary institution approved by the PNG University of Technology in the field of study related to the subject of the proposed research.
South Pacific Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SPISARD) Outreach Extension Activities in the Rural Community
Since 2003, activities have been initiated by this Department for the mutual benefits of the rural people, students and the staff. Villages have been selected from different agro-ecological zones as conduit points for the Department’s outreach activities. These activities are being conducted by the South Pacific Institute of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SPISARD) which is the outreach extension arm of the Department of Agriculture. The goal of the SPISARD is to improve the quality of teaching and research of the University through active participation with realities of PNG rural areas. Both staff and students are involved in research, demonstrations and need-based trainings in selected villages.
Linkages
National - The Department has established links with farmers, agricultural institutes, plantations, agribusiness, Provincial Governments, and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) in the following provinces: Central, Morobe, Madang, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Enga, East New Britain and West New Britain. MOUs have also been signed with NARI and DAL to do collaborative works.
International – International linkages have been established through MOUs followed by joint projects with some universities in Australia, the South Pacific, and the UK. These are: University of South Pacific (USP), Charles Sturt University (Australia), National Research Institute (NRI) of Greenwich University (U.K), South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) of the University of Adelaide, Australia, and Canberra University.
Agriculture Farm
The Department has a farm of 39 ha located on the University campus and a larger farm of about 300 hectares still to be purchased and developed.
Main functions of the farm are to provide:
1.1 Physical and financial data on various farming activities from a known and reliable source for teaching, demonstration and research,
1.2 Materials (e.g. land, crops, livestock, machinery) for demonstration and practical training in agricultural techniques,
1.3 Facilities for research and development work by the University staff and students, and for outside bodies,
1.4 The opportunity for the students to have an active and intimate association over a period of time with a farming situation,
1.5 Land for staff and student gardens.
1.6 Provide an annual physical and financial report to the Agriculture Department.