The JICA Chair program on Japanese Modernization administered at the University of Papua New Guinea, for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding between JICA and UPNG on Wednesday this week.
UPNG Vice-Chancellor Professor Frank Griffin said, the program was on and off but with the official signing of the MoU at the UPNG Council room between UPNG and JICA they will now be consistent and ensure activities are delivered.
“With this formalization process this allows us to engage in a more active way to assist one another’s interest in making sure that what is contained in the activities that need to be drawn up are blessed by this document.”
“We are very delighted to be part of this formalization process because it now gives all the schools within the University the opportunity to look at their own capacity building processes through this modernization course.”
Professor Griffin said that this also allows a joint collaboration between the two parties in terms of academic work, research and people-to-people contact that may take place across the two countries.
“There are a lot of MoU’s that people sign but are not management properly and nothing happens. But for us here at UPNG, we want this to be an active MoU so that we meet our targets to deliver the courses to the students and the students gain from it.”
He also mentioned that wherever the University of Papua New Guinea operates, the JICA Chair program will also be applied there.
Meanwhile, Chief Representative, JICA PNG office Mr. Masato Koinuma said, approximately 150 students have completed the short seven intensive video lectures delivered at the school.
“In the short term, I hope students will learn about the experience of Japan, and in the long term, hope they will contribute to nation-building of PNG in various ways.”
He added that, this MOU is a symbol of friendship between PNG and Japan.
“We hope this can promote educational cooperation and better cultural understanding between us as we pursue further our common interest further.”