Australian High Commissioner, John Feakes, yesterday welcomed 10 University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) students to the Australian High Commission to recognise their successful completion of a summer school program at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.
The students’ summer school attendance was facilitated by the ANU-UPNG partnership, a formal partnership supported by the Australian Government through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership.
High Commissioner Feakes presented the students with a certificate of attainment at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby.
“Australia is proud to support this initiative and the ANU UPNG Partnership. In hearing from the students this afternoon, I appreciate the impact the opportunity to attend the summer school has already had on their lives and ambitions.”
The third-year students were the top performers of UPNG’s School of Business and Public Policy Public Policy Management and Economics programs. They were selected to attend the annual summer school at the Crawford School of Public Policy based on academic merit.
The summer school focused on developing skills such as critical thinking and research. The students also participated in a preparatory course with ANU Crawford School of Public Policy postgraduate students and visited government, international development and academic institutions in Canberra and Sydney.
A highlight was meeting with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) staff in Canberra. The students also met with the PNG diplomatic mission in Australia and representatives of the World Bank and Lowy Institute in Sydney.
Student Wilba Bossin described the summer school’s teaching and learning environment as “very open and interactive.”
Michelle Paine found the program exhilarating: “I believe this ANU summer school program is a terrific opportunity for students. It gives us exposure and with the knowledge we’ve gathered we want to contribute meaningfully towards improving our country as economists”.
ANU-UPNG partnership representative Andrew Mako said the benefits of the summer school extended beyond the classroom: “The experience of the summer school program not only helps to prepare the students to do well in the final year of their undergraduate studies, but also teaches them important life skills, helps them build connections, and opens their perspectives to different study environments and on life generally. This ANU summer school program will leave an indelible mark in their lives”.
The ANU-UPNG organisers made sure to include some extra-curricular events including visits to museums, Australia’s Parliament House, and a boat cruise on Sydney Harbour.
The program ran from 10 January to 10 February 2024.
Australian High Commissioner, John Feakes (back-row, fifth from right) with students and staff from the UPNG School of Business and Public Policy during the ceremony.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100