Wellington-based Victoria University and Canterbury’s Lincoln University will offer undergaduate courses, research collaborations and English language tuition to students through the agreements that form a part of larger programmes set up to meet the needs of Pacific communities.

Victoria University’s Vice Chancellor Pat Walsh confirmed that the agreement comes under the  university’s Pasifika Student Success Plan that aims to increase the number of enrolments from the region. Currently some 900 students from the region are studying at the university.

“It is initiatives such as the MoU that will help accelerate and secure the development of Papua New Guinea”

“We have already seen substantial success—our Pasifika enrolments have almost doubled in the last decade—and we are very focused on furthering the achievements of our Pasifika students,” he told The PIE News. “We have a strong and longstanding relationship with the Pacific and, as New Zealand’s capital city university, are perfectly placed to build capacity in government and in other areas.

“It is initiatives such as the MoU that will help accelerate and secure the development of Papua New Guinea, through the development of the next generation.”

Similarly, an MoU between Lincoln Universitiy and PNG’s Sohe electorate in the Northern Province follows the plans outlined in its LincWantok programme to support development goals in the country via academic programmes, research collaborations, consultancy, and sponsorship in environmental management, tourism, agribusiness and English language.

“Lincoln University can help us develop our land. We have rich volcanic soils, very fertile for growth,” said Delilah Gore, Vice Minister to PNG’s Treasury. “In particular, I would like to know how Lincoln University can help us develop a floriculture industry.”