Perseverance, sacrifice pays off

PERSEVERANCE, dedication, and determination to succeed under extreme circumstances determined the PhD journey of a public servant to acquire all his academic qualifications in 10 years.
Dr Francis Hualupmomi Jr, 35, who graduated with a Masters of International Politics in 2012 from Jilin University in China, received his PhD in Public Policy – specialising in political economy of energy security – at the School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand on Dec 12, 2019.
He is from Haniak and Urgembi villages in Kubalia, Yangoru-Saussia district of East Sepik.
He has been working for 13 years in the higher and technical education sector.
He started his public service career as a cadet policy analyst in the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council in 2006, after his final year at the University of PNG.
“While working as a cadet policy analyst, I was accepted to do my Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Science in 2007.
“Then I was moved to the Office of Higher Education. In the process of reform in the higher and technical education sector, I successfully acquired all my academic qualifications within 10 years.”
He is the youngest in a family of eight. He followed the footsteps of his cousin brother Professor Steven Edmund Winduo, a senior academic at the UPNG.
“It is truly a blessing to the family of two brothers, Peter Hualupmomi and Gregory Holonga, to have produced PhDs in the country.”
He was raised by his elder brother, Abraham Hualupmomi, a police officer.
He started school in 1990 at the Charity Sisters Elementary School in Tangogo, Wewak, East Sepik.
He completed his primary education at Wabag Primary School in Enga.
In 2000, he completed Grade 10 at the Dela Salle Catholic Boys High School in Bomana, and completed Grade 12 at the Jubilee Catholic Secondary School in 2002, before joining UPNG.
“My next aim is to do a post-doctoral study in political science while in public service.”
He is currently the deputy secretary at the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.
He is the first public servant to complete all the qualifications under the PNG national qualifications framework, he said.
His advice to young people is to have faith in God and learn to forgive.