PNG University of Technology launches online postgraduate registration system

Papua New Guinea’s Papua New Guinea University of Technology has introduced an online postgraduate registration system, signalling a new step in its push to modernise academic and administrative services.

The transition from paper-based enrolment to a digital platform is expected to streamline processes for postgraduate students and administrative staff, while reducing the delays often experienced under the manual system.

 PNG University of Technology launches online postgraduate registration system [Photo credit : UNITECH PNG]

Acting Dean of Postgraduate Studies Research and Innovation Professor Rajashekhar Rao said the new system was designed to address long-standing administrative challenges faced by postgraduate students during registration.

He explained that systematic documentation was one of the main advantages of the digital approach, noting that manual processes required documents to move through multiple offices, often causing hold-ups.

“One of the most important benefits we see is systematic documentation,” Professor Rao said. “With manual registration, documents have to pass through several offices, and during that transit there can be delays or breaks. With the online process, we expect registration to be seamless, with no unnecessary delays, and far more convenient for both students and officers.”

While undergraduate registration at PNGUoT had already shifted online in recent years, postgraduate registration remained largely manual until the latest development, with the PGSRI administration team leading the platform’s rollout.

Professor Rao also highlighted that the new system establishes a centralised postgraduate student database, allowing quicker access to records, easier reporting and reduced administrative workload.

“The advantage of a digitalized database is that we can generate reports in different formats to meet administrative needs,” he said. “Doing this manually is very cumbersome, but digital technologies allow this work to be done rapidly and efficiently.”

Students have already begun reporting improvements in their registration experience, with second-year Master of Science in Agriculture student Natanya Alfred saying the process was noticeably faster this year.

“This year it only took me one day to register,” Ms Alfred said. “Last year I had to carry hard copy documents and come back several times. The online system is much faster and easier to use.”