NEW Ireland Province has taken a significant step towards strengthening its health workforce and raising nursing education standards through a new international education partnership with Hong Kong’s Tung Wah College.
Governor Byron Chan, and Tung Wah College President, Professor Sally Chan formalised the partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently, opening a pathway for New Ireland nurses to pursue higher academic qualifications through international education opportunities.
The agreement is a major step in the New Ireland Provincial Government’s efforts to invest in professional development and build a highly qualified nursing workforce capable of meeting national and international healthcare standards.
Established in 2010, Tung Wah College is a recognised higher education institution in Hong Kong specialising in nursing, medical and health sciences education. The College offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aimed at developing skilled healthcare professionals to meet evolving industry and international standards.
Governor Chan says under the proposed partnership, the provincial government’s scholarship programme will support opportunities for nurses from Lemakot School of Nursing to upgrade their qualifications to bachelor’s and master’s degree levels through academic pathways involving 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 recognised qualifications,” he said.
Governor Chan said the partnership reflected his government’s commitment to investing in human capital, particularly in the health sector, where qualified and professionally equipped personnel remain essential to delivering quality healthcare services.
He said strengthening nursing education was not simply about obtaining higher qualifications but also about equipping health professionals with the knowledge, competencies and professional standards required to serve communities effectively.
The partnership also provides an opportunity to expose New Ireland’s nursing professionals to international academic standards, contemporary medical education and professional development opportunities.
The Governor said, “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 is expected to establish a foundation for further engagement between the two institutions in nursing education, academic advancement and professional capacity building.
Governor Chan said 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 says the signing marked the beginning of a longer-term education partnership and reaffirmed its commitment to developing skilled professionals who can contribute to the province’s social and economic advancement.