PNG University Students Urged by Governor Bird to Drive Development Through Knowledge

Papua New Guinea’s East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has urged students of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) to use their academic knowledge to positively influence national decision-making and development.
Addressing students at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences two-day symposium marking UPNG’s 60th anniversary, Bird said academic work should not remain theoretical but provide solutions to real issues faced across the country.

He lamented that despite decades of higher education in PNG, research outputs from universities rarely shape policy or parliamentary debate.
Bird encouraged students to ensure their knowledge benefits rural communities and ordinary Papua New Guineans, reminding them that the founding fathers envisioned knowledge as a tool for national progress.
He added that UPNG’s 60-year journey stands as a testament to the nation’s resilience and called on the School of Humanities to empower the next generation of leaders.

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