PNG needs young people: Wissink

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
PAPUA New Guinea needs young people to lift up the country to a standard, a senior company official says.
Head of external affairs at Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture David Wissink said this during the ninth graduation of the National Polytechnic Institute of PNG (NPIPNG) in Lae on Thursday.
NPIPNG is the first of the four polytechnics envisioned to be created in each of the four regions of the country.
It was legally established in 2008 by the National Education Board.
Formerly the Lae Technical College, it today provides three-year diploma programmes in applied science, architectural drafting, building, civil engineering, accounting, computing, management, office administration, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and hospitality management.
Wissink, in his speech along the graduation theme, ‘Skilled manpower for socio-economic development’ told the 513 graduating students: “Manpower and womanpower for social and economic development is very important in this country.
“We have much to do in order to build our nation.
“Every failed experience is one step closer to success.
“Students have to take calculated risks and try. You will fail at some point in life, you have to accept yourself and embrace it.
“If you don’t fail, you are not even trying, because to get something you don’t have, you have to do something you have never did.
“Every graduate has a talent and training to succeed, but do they have the guts to fail?
“Students must be able to be open to life and new opinions.
“PNG needs talented students now more than ever. We have a beautiful country, but there are a lot of places with development issues that need your help.”
He urged the institute to continue to build a meaningful partnership with the industry so that the required skills were taught to ensure that students are work-ready.
NPIPNG has been undertaking a review of academic programmes/courses.
National advanced diploma programmes and qualifications are currently being designed and developed and will be implemented in 2019.
Deputy director for administration Lawrence Parry said the institute went through some difficult times in terms of having industry partners.
“For the last four years, we have not had partnership or industry partners who were willing to work with us to train the young generation – in skills that are required in the development of this nation.”
“I am thankful for Wafi-Golpu, who will be the institutes’ partner to train our students in the coming years, and also the other industries.”