ANU and University of Papua New Guinea renew partnership

The ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) have renewed their partnership for another four years.  

Backed by the Australian Government, the agreement builds on a relationship established in 2015, that has seen enrolments in UPNG School of Business and Public Policy grow by more than 1000 students.  

The agreement has also seen courses offered expand from 5 to 25 with ANU scholars teaching at UPNG and students receiving scholarships and support to further their studies at ANU.  

Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the ANU Development Policy Centre, says the milestone is worth celebrating. “Too often we celebrate announcements and new initiatives, but today we can celebrate a decade of achievements, as well as looking forward to another four years of the same,” he says.  

“I’m proud of the students we have been able to train at ANU — and now at UPNG through the Masters of Economic and Public Policy — who, after studying, return to UPNG to lecture. ” 

“Many people told me that these lecturers would leave UPNG after returning from ANU since they could command a much higher salary elsewhere. But in fact they have all stayed the minimum agreed five years, and only one of the eight who have so far graduated from ANU in economics has left for another job. We often talk of capacity building through the aid program, but our partnership has actually built capacity.” 

That capacity is only going to grow over the next four years as we see more students enroll and graduate from the courses this agreement has fostered.  

You can read more insights on the partnership from Professor Stephen Howes here.