Events of 2005
June 20th - The Committee
is reconstituted with Mr. Rimbink Pato as Chairman and personnel were appointed to the Project Office including Mr Apek Taso,
the present Associate Project Director.
July - Morobe Provincial
Government commences contribution of funding for the work towards the process of establishing the University.
August 20th - The Committee published The University Project Feasibility Document for presentation
to the PNG Government and Donor Agencies abroad.
September - A
site survey was commissioned for Balob Teachers College and Martin Luther Seminary where the Lutheran University is to be
situated.
September 20th - Architects were commissioned
to draw plans for additional buildings required by the Lutheran University.
November
- Deloittes Touche Tomatshu Chartered Accountants were contracted to provide strategic financial and accounting advice on
the project for partnership participation.
The Events
of 2006
January 9-13th - ELC PNG Wasu Synod considered the Committees
report on the work towards development of the University endorsed the approach and the work of the Committee generally.
February 9th – The Lutheran University Project Working
Committee held its first meeting at Martin Luther Seminary at 2 PM to discuss development issues.
April 1st - A Memorandum of Understanding in relation to
developmental assistance was signed with Murdoch University of Western Australia for the University.
July 4th - The Gutnius Lutheran Church PNG gives its endorsement to the work of the Committee
towards establishment of the University at its National Conference held at St. Paul’s (Pausa) Lutheran Secondary School.
July 8th - Wireless Broadband is introduced for the first
time to the Lutheran University Project office.
July 10th
- Dr. Lee Schluckebier, professor emeritus from Concordia University Nebraska, USA assumes duties as the University Project
Director.
August 3rd - An Agreement is signed with Murdoch
University to assist develop curriculum for the programmes to be offered by the University.
August 10th - The Minister for Higher Education Science and Culture endorses the proposal
to establish the University by the Lutheran Churches of Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Government.
October 6th - The National Executive Council (NEC) formally approves the process of establishment
of the University on the basis of a Submission put to it by the Minister for Higher Education, Science and Culture.
November 1st - An agreement is signed between the Morobe Provincial
Government, The ELC-PNG and the GLC-PNG to provide ongoing financial and resources support for the University Project.
November 15th - Legislation was passed by the Parliament
of Papua New Guinea governing ownership structure, administration, powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities of the
Lutheran University.
December 22nd - The Lutheran University
logo design is accepted from competition run by the Project Office. The winning design is from Michael Wambe a second year
business student at Goroka University, EHP.
Events
of 2007
April 23rd - A multimillion Kina funding
proposal is submitted to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for building and supplying the New University.
July 1st - Dr. Brent Kilback, former Principal of Highlands
Lutheran International School, assumes duties as the Executive Establishment Officer.
July 26th - The Committee approves a preliminary Strategic Plan to guide the Lutheran University’s
development.
October 5th - Three million Kina is approved
by the National Government Supplementary Budget is allocated to the Lutheran University.
December 23rd - The Committee accepts Master Plan Research for the Lutheran University’s
physical development.
Events
of 2008
January 6-11th - The Evangelical Lutheran
Church-PNG Ogulbeng Synod continues to fully support the establishment of the Lutheran University with a reconstituted Committee.
February 11th - The Lutheran University posted its first
website with a quarterly newsletter.
March 28th - The
Office of Higher Education released 3,000,000 Kina to the Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea. These funds were allocated
mostly for securing advance degrees for Lecturers at Balob Teachers College and Martin Luther Seminary. Additionally, funds
were allocated for a Consultancy, Master Planning, Curriculum Writing, and further work as outlined by the terms of reference
as approved in February.
April 20th - May 4th
A delegation from the Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea presented the story of the University’s development to
a variety of audiences that started with the Lutheran Education Association (LEA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota and concluding
with Mission Eine Welt in Neuendettelsau, Germany.
May 13th
Head Bishop Rev. Dr. Wesley Kigasung had unexectedly passed away at 10 o'clock in the evening at Angau Memorial
Hospital in Lae. Churches and people of Papua New Guinea lost a great and gifted leader. This created a period of uncertainty
for the Lutheran University resulting in respectful delays.
September
1st Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea signed an agreement in Port Moresby with Charles Sturt University of
New South Wales. Under this agreement 23 lecturers from Balob Teachers College were offered full scholarships to attain
their Masters Degrees.
November 18th Dr. Kilback organized
a meeting of 23 stakeholders from MLS, Balob, and the ELC-PNG Church was held at the Melanesian hotel to review
the LUPNG Master Plan.
Events
of 2009
March 11th - VSAT satellite dishes were
installed at Martin Luther Seminary and Balob teachers College to provide reliable, high-speed internet access for teaching,
research, and learning purposes.
July 21th - The Honourable
Governor Luther Wenge (MP) received the first grant of 10,000,000 Kina from the Department of National Planning and Monitoring
to begin building and infrastructure rehabilitation for the Lutheran University in the Morobe Province. These funds were released
from the Rehabilitation of Education Sector Infrastructure funds (RESI funds). Governor Wenge then presented the full
amount to the Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea to commence work as soon as is possible. The release
of these funds had been delayed related to a freeze that had been put on the Trust Fund by the Ombudsman Commission.
The freeze was lifted by a court order.
August 17th
- Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea inaugurates a new partnership with the University of Queensland [School of Nursing-Midwifery]
through the Queensland Brain Institute [QBI] to develop an innovative Bachelor of Nursing [BN] degree programme customized
to the special needs of Papua New Guinea.
Events
of 2010
January 14th - Rev. Giegere Wenge is
elected as Bishop of the ELC-PNG. Reverend Wenge is a founding member of the Establishment Committee and strongly advocates
a Lutheran University for Papua New Guinea and for the ELC-PNG Lutheran Membership.
May 26th - The first renovation project begins and is contracted to a nearby contractor called
Nosrida. The old Christian Radio Building began renovations with the idea to create new office space and a state-of-the-art
conference/seminar room.
August 19 – The Lutheran University
with the Assistance of PeddleThorp Architects prepared a Revised Staging Plan that shifted the emphasis toward the development
of the Martin Lutheran Seminary Precinct as a first priority. Facilities will be shared until funding comes
in to develop and complete the main campus for the Lutheran University, which will be located closer to Malahang Technical
College.
October 30 - The Establishment Committee approved the
installation of an advanced videoconferencing system for the proposed newly renovated university conference room.
Events of 2011
May
1 4 - The LUPNG project office staff moved into the newly renovated Communications building at Martin Luther Seminary.
May 17th 4 - Seventeen Balob Teacher College lectures received
their Master of Education degree as sponsored by the Lutheran University.
May
20th 4 - The Acting Prime Minister Sam T Abal officiated the ground-breaking ceremony for the initiating stage
of a Multimillion Kina Building project at Martin Luther Seminary.
May
25th 4 - A revised Project Formulation Document was presented to the Department of National Planning Implementation
of Papua New Guinea.
July - Peddle Thorp Architects
submitted a final draft of the Schematic Design Report outlining details for three new buildings including a Classroom building
with library facilities, dormitory, and an administration building.
Sept
8th 4 - Mr. Simon Sanangke, the CEO of the National Gaming Control Board, delivered a cheque for 200,000 Kina for
Sports Facility renovations at the proposed Lutheran University site at Martin Luther Seminary
Sept 29th - Prime Minister Peter O’Neill delivered a two million Kina cheque to Bishop
Giegere Wenge for the development of the Lutheran University at the National Pastors Conference in Port
Moresby. Bishop Wenge presented the cheque to the Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea.
Oct 13-14 - The Office of Higher Education met with stakeholders and the Project
office of the Lutheran University- Project to present the pathway forward toward establishing as a recognized Institution
of Higher Education.
Nov 2-4 - The Office of
Higher Education Audit team with members from four recognized universities in Papua New Guinea met with the project office
to evaluate the progress of the project. The Audit Team was complimentary and recommended moving forward
as soon as possible with a limited program at the Martin Luther Seminary Campus.
