Students get free laptops

Joey Tau




Divine Word University in Madang, Papua New Guinea, has made history by becoming the first institution in the region and probably the world to issue free laptop computers to its students.
The university has received praise from all its stakeholders and other institutions in the country for setting the benchmark when it recently launched its One Laptop per Student project.
President of Divine Word University (DWU), Dr Fr Jan Czuba said technology literacy especially computer literacy and internet usage skills is a major concern in most developing nations, and this project aims to address this.
Czuba said the laptops are important tools for students to enhance and sharpen their computer literacy and internet usage skills to meet the requirements of today’s modern workforce.
University Council bard member and prominent businessman, Sir Peter Barter commended DWU for investing in technology for each student.
Barter said the university has gone through a lot of tangible developments over the years and he was proud the university has taken a strategic approach to be part of the modern world which is advancing with information and communication technology (ICT).
He said “information and communication technology is the new path in today’s modern world of     business and I’m proud that students are acquiring these skills here at the university”.
Czuba stressed the university sees the importance of shaping professionals for leadership and management jobs in a highly advanced technological world.
He said the “laptops have the latest computer programmes and wireless internet connectivity, and this puts a DWU student on par with his or her counterparts in other developed countries”.
The Dell Latitude 2100 computers have been issued to third and fourth-year degree students, while the first and second year diploma students will receive theirs in the second semester.
The university has also launched a new high capacity network server that is funded by AusAID to cater for the increased number of users.
Meanwhile, students said the laptops have allowed them to complete school work at their convenient time and location. They said, “We can access information and email academic documents more easily where ever we are in the vicinity of the university campus.”