Australian Envoy commends PNG's Divine Word University

Australian Envoy commends Divine Word University /Photo credit: Australian High Commission

The Australian  High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Mr Bruce Davis has spoken highly of Divine Word University in PNG. He made the comment while   attending  a graduation ceremony for 936 graduate and post-graduate students at the university.

Mr Davis spoke highly of the University’s plan to transform into a leading institution for knowledge in the country. He told graduates that the skills they acquired through their University studies would be critical to their workplace, and could be used to improve community services, start new businesses and help the country’s natural resources to be managed sustainably and equitably.

“That is why the Australian Government works closely with the Government of Papua New Guinea in the area of education, including universities. Education is one of the most powerful tools for any country’s development,” he said.

Mr Davis also touched on the importance of educating and empowering women and girls for the nation’s development. He commented that gender equality and women’s empowerment were key development goals on which both Governments worked closely together, including by enabling more PNG girls to enrol in and complete their schooling.

Australia’s support for the education sector in PNG over the last four years has seen the construction of more than 400 classrooms and around 200 teacher houses, and the provision of sanitation facilities to make it easier for girls to attend and remain in school.

Story / Photo by : Australian High Commission