New Ireland province has taken a significant step toward strengthening its health workforce and elevating nursing education standards through a new international partnership with Hong Kong’s Tung Wah College.
Governor Byron Chan and Tung Wah College President, Professor Sally Chan, formalized the agreement through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a pathway for local nurses to pursue higher academic qualifications abroad.
The agreement marks a major milestone in the New Ireland Provincial Government’s strategy to invest in professional development and cultivate a highly qualified nursing workforce capable of meeting both national and global healthcare benchmarks.
Established in 2010, Tung Wah College is a recognized higher education institution in Hong Kong specializing in nursing, medical, and health sciences education, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes designed to develop skilled healthcare personnel.
Under the proposed arrangement, the provincial government’s scholarship programme will support opportunities for nurses from the Lemakot School of Nursing to upgrade their qualifications to bachelor’s and master’s degree levels through academic pathways with Tung Wah College.
“The initiative is intended to strengthen the professional capacity of nurses, improve the quality of healthcare delivery and expand opportunities for New Ireland’s nursing workforce to attain internationally recognized qualifications,” Governor Chan said.
Governor Chan emphasized that the partnership reflects his government’s commitment to investing in human capital within the health sector, where well-equipped personnel remain essential for effective healthcare delivery.
He noted that advancing nursing education extends beyond earning higher degrees to providing health professionals with the specific knowledge, competencies, and standards needed to serve communities efficiently.
Furthermore, the collaboration exposes New Ireland’s nursing professionals to contemporary medical education and international academic standards.
“For Lemakot School of Nursing, the MOU represents an important opportunity to strengthen its academic development and create further educational pathways for its graduates and nursing workforce.”
“The provincial government views the partnership as part of its broader human resource development agenda, ensuring that New Ireland’s investment in education translates into improved professional standards and better services for its people.”
The collaboration builds a foundation for long-term engagement between the two institutions in nursing education, academic advancement, and capacity building.
Governor Chan added that the ultimate objective is to develop a nursing workforce equipped to meet the evolving demands of healthcare delivery in Papua New Guinea while creating opportunities for appropriately qualified professionals to pursue international career pathways, subject to relevant professional registration and licensing requirements.
The New Ireland Provincial Government affirmed that the signing marks the start of an enduring educational partnership, reinforcing its dedication to developing skilled professionals who contribute directly to the province’s social and economic advancement.