Yalamu puts skills to use

AN arts and design lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Dr Philemon Yalamu published four journals while studying and established a virtual creative hub after being conferred a PhD in computer science and software engineering through the Australia Awards PNG.
He then created a website and blog to share tutorials and articles.
Following his qualification, he became the strand leader for creative arts at the university.
Yalamu had taught more than 500 undergraduate students.
“I believe they are out there contributing to nation building,” he added.
The 40-year-old is a husband and father of four sons and comes from Bukawa in Morobe and Umun in Madang.
He grew up in Madang where he had his primary and secondary education.
His parents were primary school teachers and were “the only motivators and source of inspiration”, for him in this rural setting, he said.
Yalamu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2004 at UPNG and became a graduate assistant with the department of public relations before tutoring graphic design at the university from 2005 to 2008.
He then obtained a Master of Multimedia in 2010 from the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne through an Australia Awards PNG scholarship and was promoted from lecturer to the head of department for arts and design.
Yalamu initiated a project called the APEC Digital Opportunity Centre, aimed to bridge the digital divide. Within two years, the project helped more than 5,000 men, women, and children gain free basic knowledge in computing, with the support of the Taiwan Trade Mission and UPNG.
In 2016, he decided to further his studies when he realised that his department needed someone with a PhD to lead changes to the creative arts programme.
He obtained his PhD through Australia the Awards PNG in 2020.
Yalamu said he had never written or published any academic work nor done any in-depth research before studying for a PhD and saw this as a very big challenge.
“I believe those who assessed my PhD proposal and interviewed me before awarding the scholarships saw beyond my weakness, and I am thankful to them,” he said.
“A PhD journey should be seen as a commitment that requires perseverance and follow-through.”
Yalamu pursued various interests in Australia such as flying and created a network with his peers which led him to organise a group of artists from the UK and Australia to visit UPNG and collaborate with staff and students in a mini arts festival.
He also established connections with organisers of TOM Melbourne, a tec-innovative organisation specialising in developing assistive technologies for people with disabilities.
Yalamu asked to replicate this technology in PNG and the organisation has offered to provide mentoring sessions to make this happen.
“It is not an easy journey,” he said.
“However, it is possible if you set your mind to it, and you must also establish your priorities early on in your journey.”