Pacific Adventist University

Research at PAU

PAU acknowledges the importance of the research-teaching nexus in ensuring the provision of quality tertiary education. Staff and student research activity results in providing a stimulating learning environment for students, enhances staff professional development and contributes to the development of knowledge that is relevant in the Pacific context.

The PAU Research and Ethics Committee:

Provides ethical review for research conducted by PAU staff and students and by those external to PAU conducting research involving PAU students, faculty, intellectual property, documents and the like;
Promotes research, scholarship and other creative work both within PAU and externally;
Nurtures links and fosters research collaborations with other national and international research institutions;
Monitors issues relating to quality in research and research activities;
Encourages the dissemination of research outcomes and the uptake of recommendations resulting from research as appropriate.

Postgraduate Research

PAU offers opportunities to undertake postgraduate research degrees at Masters level. See the Future Students pages for details about our courses.

Research Projects

PAU has many research projects in progress and nearing completion. As time progresses these projects will be listed on our website and individual project pages created for each of the research projects.

Completed Projects

Title of Research Project	Researcher	Status of Research
Solid Waste Management Practices	Stephen Vele	Current staff research finishing in December 2009
Successful models of youth leadership	Dr Lalen Simeon, Ben Thomas, Dr Tracie Mafileo, Dr Barry Gane	Current faculty research finishing in December 2009
Effective Bible teaching in rural areas of Solomon Islands: an investigation of bible teaching at Jones Adventist College	Bevan Tutuo	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
Towards an Understanding of Contemporary Worship in the Adventist Church in Port Moresby	David Gairo,	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
The Leadership Perceptions and Practices of Ni-Vanuatu Seventh-day Adventist Pastors	Ericson Restuetune	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
A Practical Approach to the Nurture of Church Members in Papua New Guinea: A Case Study of Morata Seventh-day Adventist Church	Max Zaccias	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
A study on the feasibility of establishing an Adventist Professional's association for evangelism to support the mission of the SDA church in Port Moresby	Reuben Akia	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
Discovering the dynamics of equipping, sustaining and building disciples in Papua New Guinea Seventh-day Adventist Churches	Robert Jonathan	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
Survey of strategic planning needs for Fiji mission field ministers and a suggested model for ministry	Sefanaia Turava	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
The role of the teacher in addressing Student occult sub-cultures in a Papua New Guinea secondary school: A case study	Unia Kaise Api	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009

Research Projects In Progress

Title of Research Project	Researcher	Status of Research
Cultural Bridges in PNG Cultures	Graeme Humble	Current faculty research for PhD (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA)
The implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEP)at the three special education facilities (Cheshire Home, Red Cross Special School and St John School of the Blind) in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and the involvement of parents in the IEP	Fulori Bola	Current faculty research due for completion early 2010
Maternal mortality in Papua New Guinea	Nina Pangiau	Current faculty research for PhD (University of Newcastle, Aust.)
Workline in a Changing Environment	Simon Luke	Current faculty research for PhD (Avondale College, Aust.)
What can be learnt about male circumcision with a cohort of students and staff at a PNG university (Pilot Study)	Rachel Tommbe and Lester Asugeni	Current faculty research
Is male circumcision an acceptable and feasible intervention to reduce HIV transmission in Papua New Guinea?	Rachael Tommbe and Lester Asugeni	Current faculty research in collaboration with James Cook University
SDA Education Through the Eyes of Missionaries	Jillian Thiele	Current faculty research
Dance in the South Pacific Islands: Encounters with Adventist Christian faith	Jennifer Jones	Current faculty research for PhD (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA)
Perceptions of late adolescent children of PAU staff about growing up on campus	Danijela Schubert	Current faculty research for DMin (Fuller Theological Seminary, USA)
Students' perceptions of change attributed to a service learning program in a tertiary Adventist institution in the South Pacific (Education)	Leroy Elisha	Current faculty research for PhD (Adventist Institute of Advanced Studies, Philippines)
Successful models of youth leadership	Dr Lalen Simeon, Ben Thomas, Dr Tracie Mafileo, Dr Barry Gane	Current faculty research finishing in December 2009
Demographic profile of PNGUM membership from 1900-present	Jennifer Litau	Current faculty research
Youth Resilience in PNG	Dr Tracie Mafile'o	Current faculty research finishing in December 2009
Early Christian gospels: Their production and transmission. A comparative codicological, palaeographical, and text-critical study of canonical and non-canonical gospel papyri (Theology)	Dr Scott Charlesworth	Current faculty research ongoing
Effective Bible teaching in rural areas of Solomon Islands: an investigation of bible teaching at Jones Adventist College	Bevan Tutuo	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
Towards an Understanding of Contemporary Worship in the Adventist Church in Port Moresby	David Gairo,	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
The Leadership Perceptions and Practices of Ni-Vanuatu Seventh-day Adventist Pastors	Ericson Restuetune	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
A Practical Approach to the Nurture of Church Members in Papua New Guinea: A Case Study of Morata Seventh-day Adventist Church	Max Zaccias	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
A study on the feasibility of establishing an Adventist Professional's association for evangelism to support the mission of the SDA church in Port Moresby	Reuben Akia	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
Discovering the dynamics of equipping, sustaining and building disciples in Papua New Guinea Seventh-day Adventist Churches	Robert Jonathan	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
Survey of strategic planning needs for Fiji mission field ministers and a suggested model for ministry	Sefanaia Turava	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
The role of the teacher in addressing Student occult sub-cultures in a Papua New Guinea secondary school: A case study	Unia Kaise Api	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research completed in 2009
HIV Risk amongst Rural SDA Women in Yabiufa, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea	Nellie Hamura-Oa	Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry research to be completed in 2010

Davaria is the academic journal of Pacific Adventist University.