IBS University to open in April

(L) Marketing Manager Jennitha Japhetz, Chancellor Nades, and Development Manager Jenny Nades.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 22, 2017 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

A CLEARLY pleased founder and Chancellor, Mick Nades, of newly accredited university in the country, IBS University (formerly Institute of Business Studies), has affirmed the opening of the new private university set for April this year.

Since its elevation to university status announced by the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) after a December 1 National Executive Council decision- Chancellor Nades thanked the, prime minister, DHERST Minister Francis Marus and NEC for the support given to the institution.

He said the 28 year journey was worth it through the hard work of staff, student, and various partnerships built through the years to achieve the new status.

“It took 28 years in total history whereas in the last 18 years we have been running the Southern Cross University Degree Program, in partnership with IBS and that has been a great achievement for 18 years.”

“Prior to that in 1995 we formed a partnership with UPNG running their Diploma in Accounting program and that was the first partnership, and in 1999 we signed the partnership with Southern Cross (University, Australia) and in 2002 we signed the partnership with Deakin University (Australia) to offer the MBA program.”

“IBS was the first institution in Papua New Guinea to bring an Australian MBA Program. So we had so many years of hard work and commitment and dedication to come this far,” Mr Nades said.

He said with the new status a new journey begins to create an innovative university for the country.

“What that means actually is that as supposed to the teacher centered learning where the teacher is standing over here and students over there.”

“What we are going to focus here at IBS University is that we are actually going to turn it around to be a student centered university.”

With the main campus to be located at its Mt Eriama campus, Chancellor Nades, said that with construction work on their main building and infrastructure close to completion. It will see it open up an iconic facility to open its doors as a university.

The university will run degree programs tailored to it being a business specialised university- with first degrees in accounting and finance, economics and development, information technology, and business management.

Southern Cross University specialisation degrees in accounting, human resource, marketing, and information technology.

“Altogether we offer eight degrees and as you all know that we only focus on business studies because that is what we are good at,” he concluded.

A total of 1,000 spaces will be available when the institution reaches peak enrolment, with Grade Point Average (GPA) requirements set a 2 for entry.