Planning Division

The Planning Division is the University's central unit for institutional research, strategic planning, and quality assurance. It works closely with the Vice-Chancellor's Office, the Council Secretariat, and all faculties and administrative divisions to gather data, analyse trends, and inform decisions that shape the future direction of UPNG.

The division leads the preparation and review of the University's Strategic Plan, coordinates the annual Performance Review process, and produces the institutional data publications used by government, accreditation bodies, and development partners. It also serves as the focal point for responses to the National Research Institute, the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST), and other external oversight bodies.

Quality assurance is a core function of the division. The Planning Division supports academic programmes in meeting national and international accreditation standards, coordinates institutional self-studies, and facilitates external reviews. Staff work alongside schools and faculties to embed continuous improvement practices across teaching, research, and administration.

Working with the Planning Division

Schools, faculties, and administrative divisions are encouraged to engage with the Planning Division early when developing new programmes, proposing organisational changes, or preparing grant applications that require institutional data or endorsements. The division maintains a repository of approved institutional statistics and can assist with the preparation of supporting documentation for submissions to DHERST, donor organisations, and professional accreditation bodies.

Data requests from external parties — including researchers, government agencies, and the media — should be directed to the Director, Planning, who coordinates approval and release in accordance with the University's data governance policy.

Rationale for the Division Existence

The planning & development division of the University was established to accommodate the strategic physical and development planning activities of the campus, act as a focal point for development submission from the various schools and divisions of the university to funding sources, coordinate the implementation of government funded physical infrastructure projects, collect, store, analyze and compile data on student enrolment, graduation, staff numbers, academic, administration buildings and facilities staff accommodation information and student dormitories, etc, and disseminate these information to relevant agencies for manpower planning and budgeting purposes and acts as the secretariat to various university committees such as the university planning and resources committee, the master plan committee and the project steering committee.

Responsibilities

The following functions are performed by the division to give effect to the stated mission statement:

• Campus planning: facilitate planning activities for development of the university. The division is responsible for preparing “university capacity and development program documents and making submission to responsible national departments and stakeholders for possible funding. The division stands to assist schools and divisions with formulate and operationalize their operationalize and strategic plans.
• Data collection and dissemination: the division collects data and statistics on student enrolment, graduation, staff capacity, state of teaching, and learning facilities, staff housing, dormitory space and other vital information and send these to DHERTS and other relevant government agencies for manpower planning and budget purposes.
• Implementation, monitoring & evaluation: Ensure planned projects and development activities of the University are implemented according to plan through monitoring and evaluating their progress. The department supervises the implementation of funded development projects by organizing project engineering work, tendering/contract awarding; and project construction.
• Project identification: identify, initiate, develop, and manage development projects on campus to achieve set development objectives, responsible for the development budget. The division administers all pip project funds transaction for smooth and timely construction to progress.
• Establish linkages & maintain networks: initiate, maintain and strengthen linkages with appropriate government agencies and the donor community for the development for the university.
• Reporting: provide reports to the university management and other stakeholders on the campus physical development activities in line with national government policies and programs for the university. The division provide accurate and timely reports on the progress of development projects implemented at the university to its stakeholders.
• Servicing of committees: participate and service certain important university committees. Initiate the implementation of committee decisions.
• Custodian of university land titles, boundary surveys and allotments: the division keeps land titles and boundary maps, boundary surveys and property titles.
• Timetabling: provide support in preparing the university’s annual academic calendar and timetable.
• Central facilities management: manage all central facilities of the university, and facilitate day-to-day activities within them in consultation with physical facilities management division.
• General Administration: ensure effective development planning and implementation are provided to the university.