Enga campus officially launched by Ipatas
The Institute of Business Studies (IBS) Enga Campus was officially launched by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas in June in Wabag, accomplishing another milestone for the Enga provincial government in its educational focus.
Ipatas, called by many in the area as the ‘Action Governor’ was welcomed at the campus by a big crowd of IBS staff and students and members of the public, where he cut the ribbons to launch new facilities there, including the satellite dish to enable high speed internet access for students and staff, computer laboratory, network servers and classrooms.
He encouraged the students to take ownership of the opportunity given to them and to strive to excel in their studies. IBS Director Sadiq Ali explained to the crowd that IBS is both a nationally and internationally recognised and affiliated institution, offering certificate, diploma and degree courses in Business and Information Technology across three campuses, with the Enga campus being the latest one to be opened.
The other two campuses are Saraga (6 Mile) and Eriama Valley (11 Mile) in the National Capital District. IBS has been affiliated with Southern Cross University of New South Wales, Australia, since 1999 and offers their degree programmes in Accounting, Business, Human Resource Management, Information Technology and Marketing. This affiliation has made IBS to be the first and only institution in PNG to offer internationally-recognised bachelor degree programmes face to face in PNG.
IBS is a Study Centre of UPNG, offering Diploma in Accounting of UPNG and is also an accredited Test Centre for the International Computer Driving Licence and is linked with the Australian Computer Society. Through a partnership with the Enga Provincial Government, IBS is now offering international diploma and degree programmes in Business (Accounting) and Information Technology to students in Enga, with highly qualified and experienced lecturers based in Wabag. The pioneering batch of students studying at the campus this year were reported to have done extremely well in the first semester. The Governor and the public were invited to tour the facilities at the new campus after the cutting of ribbons. More infrastructure are expected to be built in the coming months at the new campus.