UPNG Launches Children's Book On The Internet

PORT MORESBY: One of the University of Papua New Guinea's long term goals would be to deliver education and information to Papua New Guineans and the rest of the world via the Internet, reports the National.

Pro Vice Chancellor (academic affairs), Dr Thomas Wagner said this at a ceremony while launching a new children's book by Papua New Guinean author, Andrew Solien, through the Internet earlier this week.

Dr Wagner said the book was the first of its kind to be launched through the Internet by the university, and thus has signalled a new age of Internet publishing for UPNG.

He said, in today's world, publishing on the internet is the most efficient way to deliver information and education to the community, and this form of publishing is being quickly adopted by institutions around the world.

"The most exciting part is that we have only just began to tap the network as a resource. Over the next few years we will see more and more uses, from on-line distance education to web access of research journals to many areas we can not even imagine right now," said Dr Wagner.

Dr Wagner also said that UPNG would soon link its centers throughout the country through the internet and this would ensure that distance education course materials will be easily obtained by thousands of students enrolled in the Institute of Distance Education Program.

He said, in line with these visions, UPNG is a leading partner in the proposal to develop a network linking all education and research institutions in the country and throughout the world.

The Secretary for the Education Mr Peter Baki who was also present at the launching said, there is much that can be done to foster book development in PNG, that it will require determined effort by those concerned to see the ideas and issues of the book development converted into much needed action.

Mr Baki said, the young local author, Andrew Solien's book has moved at a tale from 'our oral tradition to print' and the fact that it is the first book to be published on the internet is a proud achievement for the author and PNG as it is a new trend in book publishing.

He said the launching of the new book on internet was a further step in the right and important direction to cope with the changing world.

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