Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
WELCOME
Dear Staff, Students and Stakeholders,
A hearty welcome to all the new and continuing staff and students of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at Madang Campus for 2021 Academic Year. Hopefully, you have returned with new energy and inspiration.
The guiding theme of the current academic year is: “The language that all people understand is that of love”. These words are attributed to St. Joseph Freinademetz, an SVD missionary to China. St. Joseph Freinademetz was a man of prayer who loved God and this love led him to the experience of his own inner transformation that radiated love to the people of China he was missioned to.
The theme of the current academic year invites us to open up to the transforming power of God’s love to be reflected in all that we say and all that we do. By bringing transformation into the students’ life we will reach many people in the world of academic knowledge through them. It also invites us to live out the DWU core values that shape our attitudes, strengthen our commitment and evoke meaningful contribution towards reaching our common vision and mission of the University.
Thanks to our stakeholders, partners, sponsors and benefactors we have crossed a number of milestones. Our collaboration with them and their support to us have substantially contributed to the development of DWU and our faculty. Along with them, our staff and students of the past have worked hard in making this institution in its present form.
I extend a warm welcome to the year one students, and all continuing students, who are the most important members of our community.
In a special way, I welcome the new staff members to our Faculty: Mrs. Stephanie Tapungu is welcomed back after her doctoral studies to Communication Arts Department (CA); Sr. Monika Steinberger while continuing her service to staff and students as a counselor will be a lecturer in the Department of Social and Religious Studies (SRS); Ms. Jaythy Kekeya is a new tutor in PNG Studies and International Relations (PGIR).
Since 2019 we have carried out a new program in the SRS department and this current academic year is the year in which the students of SRS year 3 will be divided into two streams, namely, to the Bachelor of Arts in Social Religious Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. I wish to all the students and staff a truly academic curiosity in searching for new knowledge and eagerness to learn new skills for the future work and service indispensable in both of these streams.
We are proud of our Faculty for the achievements we made in the recent past. It should be highlighted that despite the Covid 19 pandemic, a total of 146 students graduate this current year. Out of these 146 graduates, there are 9 students who graduate with a Master’s degree, 115 students who graduate with Bachelor degree and 22 students graduate with Diploma (this includes both full time and part time studies). Let us keep in mind that besides the three Master’s programs and six undergraduate programs including the English language program, currently the faculty has three accredited external academic programs, namely, Diploma in Customs Studies (DCS), Diploma in Justice Administration (DJA), and Diploma in Pastoral Ministry.
Let us face the new beginning with courage and strong faith that the inspiring words of St. Joseph Freinademetz will guide and transform us, both staff and students and help us to become witnesses of God’s love transmitted through our words and actions and agents of change to make our country a better place to live.
May God bless us and all our endeavors,
Associate Professor Sr. Miriam Dlugosz, SSpS
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences