DWU president honoured for services to higher education
April 27, 2010
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| DWU President, Fr Jan Czuba (second from right) playing host to an Australian government delegation to the DWU Campus in Madang on April, 2008. He is seen welcoming Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith (second from left), Australian Parliamentary Under Secretary for Pacific Affairs, Duncan Kerr (left) and the then Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Chris Moraitis (right). Governor of Madang Sir Arnold Amet is behind Mr Smith. Story and Picture from the DWU Community Information Centre |
An Australian university has honoured, the President of Divine Word University, Father Jan Czuba for his contribution to higher education and DWU.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) recently awarded an honorary doctorate to Fr Czuba at the annual graduation of its Canberra campus during the ceremony held at the Great Hall of the Australian Federal Parliament.
Dr Father Czuba joins many distinguished individuals in Australia and overseas that the ACU has recognised with its highest honour over the years.
The award recognised Dr Czuba’s contribution to higher education and DWU from the time he took over the reigns at the then Divine Word Institute (DWI) in 1995 and transformed it to a vibrant modern university over a decade.
Dr Czuba was also accorded the privilege to give the occasional address at the graduation in which he spoke about how the close ties between Australia and PNG could better used to develop higher education and the human resource of PNG.
A press statement from ACU said Dr Czuba who is also the Executive Director of Professional Standards for the Australian Catholic Church “has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of higher education and the Divine Word University in Madang, Papua New Guinea.
“Fr Czuba designed and oversaw the growth of academic programs from the original undergraduate to the current postgraduate doctoral programs by research.
“He also established the Tertiary Distance Education Centre based in the Port Moresby Campus and the Faculty of Flexible Learning which provides access to education for the people in semi-urban and rural areas.
The ACU said over a 10-year period, the new Divine Word University has become a national Catholic university, with campuses in five different provinces.
“I believe that everyone has a calling or a passion,” Fr Czuba said in the press release. “It is satisfying to know that I can use my skills and knowledge to support others in reaching their goals and to work professionally.”
“I appreciate the recognition that Australian Catholic University has given me and what we do in Papua New Guinea, for both the PNG people and the higher education sector more broadly.”
The ACU also recognised Dr Czuba’s leadership roles in various aspects of higher education where he was appointed as Chairperson of the Papua New Guinea Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation Committee, which developed National Standards for Quality Assurance in Papua New Guinea and the Commission for Higher Education. He is currently the chairman of the PNG Vice Chancellors Committee and among the highlights of his tenure is the creation of the PNG Academic and Research Network (PNGARNet), a not for profit Internet-based research and academic network for the six universities and research institutions and other colleges that may join in due course.
Dr Czuba has also served on the Governing Council of the University of Goroka, and has served on other boards including his recent re-appointment as chairman of the Madang (Modilon) General Hospital for a second consecutive term.
Among the many guests that witnessed Dr Czuba receive his award in Canberra included the Australian Parliamentary Under Secretary for Pacific Affairs, Duncan Kerr, PNG High Commissioner to High Australia, Charles Lepani, Polish Ambassador to Australia, PNG and Solomon Islands, Andzej Jaroszynski, DWU Council member and former Madang Regional MP, Sir Peter Barter, DWU Vice President Academic, Br Andrew Simpson, DWU director for Development and Self Reliance, Br Theo Becker, Dr Czuba’s brother, Marek and his wife, Irena Czuba and Australian academic associates of DWU.
