Uni official pleased with scholarship programme

AUSTRALIA’s New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarship programme has been given the thumbs up the University of Technology (Unitech).
Vice Chancellor Dr Ora Renagi told The National that the arrangement would provide more interactivity (for PNG students) with international universities.
“It will bring that international ‘flavour’ into universities in PNG, which the students need to be aware of, that we are a university with mixed cultures from all over the world, and for us to appreciate each other and to create a conducive study environment,” Renagi said.
He was pleased that a fourth-year agricultural science student Dylan Male from Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia is currently undertaking his study component at Unitech, after completing an internship with Newcrest Ltd attached to the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture.
“I am glad that Dylan is here and learning about our agriculture patents, crops and so on. We need some overseas participation and this is the way to go.
“Unitech has the agriculture knowledge for PNG through our agriculture department, and other nations have to know about our science of agriculture,” Renagi said.
The NCP scholarship programme provides opportunities for Australian undergraduates to take semester-based study and internships or mentorships in 40 participating Indo-Pacific locations.
Australian students Male, 22, and Hannah Brimstone, 25, chose to be NCP scholars in PNG.
Australian Consul General Paul Murphy said Male and Brimstone were intrepid young Australians “who have seen with their own eyes that PNG is a fascinating place, rich in its cultural diversity and the warmth and hospitality of its people.”
“They have won places as NCP scholars because of their exceptional potential to contribute towards the many organisations that operate across Australia and PNG,” Murphy said.
“I am especially glad that they intend to use this experience when they return home.”