UPNG students attend Aussie school programme

IN January, 10 undergraduates from the University of PNG’s (UPNG) school of business and public policy attended a summer school programme at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.
The summer school programme is part of the partnership between the two universities and is aimed at enhancing business and public policy learning for UPNG students, and strengthening the people-to-people links at tertiary academic level.
Under this partnership, ANU academics are attached each year at UPNG to teach economics and public policy subjects to UPNG business and public policy students.
Olivia Kakalave, a public policy management student who is now in her final year of studies, was among those who attended the summer school programme in January.
She said the partnership had been beneficial for her over the course of her studies and that the summer school program was enlightening.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for students like myself to be exposed to such programmes,” Kakalave said.
“If we go out and see what it’s like there, when we come back we can make a difference in the field that we are studying.”
Kakalave said this exposure would build capability and boost students’ self-esteem.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and sharing these ideas with our junior students through our association,” she said.
“We can try to disseminate information, give hope to others and motivate them to make a difference.”
The summer school programme consists of course work to improve critical research skills, and extracurricular events which expose students to new ways of thinking and provide opportunities to build networks.
It inspires students, exposes them to new intellectual challenges, and strengthens their critical thinking and academic capabilities.
The ANU-UPNG partnership and the summer school program are supported by the PNG – Australia Partnership through the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct.