07 April 2014
Visit to Madang highlights higher education partnership
Australia’s support for quality higher education in Papua New Guinea is the focus of the visit to Madang today by Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Brett Mason.
Senator Mason will see how Australia’s assistance for the Divine Word University, PNG Maritime College and Lutheran School of Nursing is providing enhanced training opportunities and better access to a quality education.
“I look forward to meeting with tertiary leaders including university Vice Chancellors and discussing Australia’s continuing support for building a strong education sector in Papua New Guinea,” Senator Mason said.
“Universities shape development and bring sustained benefits to PNG through the pursuit of knowledge and skilled workers – the quality of universities is critical to this mission.”
At the Divine Word University, Senator Mason will discuss twinning activities with Australia’s universities that are part of the shared agenda to improve higher education quality, and he will inspect Australian-funded facilities including the modern Friendship library and student accommodation.
Senator Mason will tour recent refurbishments at the Lutheran School of Nursing which Australia has supported to lift training opportunities in midwifery, nursing and community health work. The training of up to 500 midwives throughout the country will result in an additional 8000 supervised births a year.
Australia has provided 58 Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships for study at the school and supports two midwifery facilitators who work with the teachers and students to improve teaching quality and produce confident graduates.
Senator Mason will visit the internationally recognised PNG Maritime College where Australian Government assistance has directly enabled the attainment of international training standards for seafarers.
Senator Mason’s visit to Madang will also promote the Government’s $100 million New Colombo Plan, which is designed to give Australian undergraduate students new opportunities to pursue study programs and internships in countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
The New Colombo Plan, currently in its pilot phase and providing opportunities in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia, will be rolled out more broadly across the Indo-Pacific from early next year.
Senator Mason returns to Port Moresby on Tuesday 8 April to Port Moresby where he will visit the Australian-Pacific Technical College and meet with the Minister for Higher Education Delilah Gore.