Roa and Mugau receive Foreign Affairs Award of Academic Excellence

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been working in partnership with Divine Word University (DWU) in building capacity for the Papua New Guinea Foreign Service in recent times.

Witnessing again the 34th DWU Graduation Ceremony, Acting Secretary for Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr William Dihm said, 'it is an honour and privilege to be back again to present the 2016 Foreign Affairs Awards to the two recipients including Mr Jude Roa and Ms Jerominah Mugau from the PNG Studies and International Relations Department (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).

"Mr Roa received the Gold Medal for academic excellence whilst Ms Mugau received the Bronze medal."

Mr Dihm highlighted that one of the key objectives of the Department of Foreign Affairs is Capacity Building. In this context; Strengthening Partnerships and Building Capacity at all levels. He added that DFA has been working in partnership with DWU to build capacity for our Papua New Guinea Foreign Service, which DFA highly values and supports.

"DFA also works in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand to provide a Foreign Service Training Programme for nine (9) months to prepare the newly graduands, serving officers and colleagues from line departments and agencies the skills, knowledge and the tradecrafts of Diplomacy."

"The Foreign Service plays an important role to promote greater global solidarity, foster transparency and good governance and make the necessary connections for PNG abroad," said Acting Secretary Dihm.

"I am pleased to announce that so far - opportunity has been given to the past and recent Foreign Affairs Awardees who have joined the Foreign Service including; Ms Lucy Efi (2013), Ms Clare Kliawi (2014), Ms Anna Mokono (Secondment APEC Authority in which PNG will be host in 2018) and Ms Maria Dolares Biaun (2015) currently in New Zealand attending the Foreign Service Training."

Acting Secretary Dihm reiterated that DFA has not only given opportunities to the Foreign Affairs awardees but have extended to recruit more from the PNG Studies and International Relations department including Ms Amy Kuli (2016 Joseph Rainbubu Award for Best Research Project) and Ms Susie Maki (2016) currently attending the Foreign Service Training Programme in New Zealand and others before them as well bring a total of fifteen (15).

The Acting Secretary Dihm will also have the opportunity to address the PNG Studies and International Relations students on the roles and responsibilities of the DFA and Foreign Service in a global perspective on Monday 14 march 2016 at the SVD Auditorium, DWU.