Through the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies and the National Cultural Commission,
leading scholars from across PNG have gathered within the European Union funded project
INTRACOMP.
The project was launched in PNG on the 29th of April at the Ullier Bier Creative Arts Haus at
The University of Papua New Guinea.
Awarded three million euro by the prestigious Horizon Europe research funding agency, the
INTRACOMP project is made up of a consortia of 13 institutions and organizations spread
across 12 countries in Europe and the Pacific.
Over the next three years, it will investigate how climate change, and climate mobility, will
impact cultural attitudes, and how we will need to transform education and cultural attitudes,
to enhance the intercultural and transcultural competence of young people.
Many dignitaries attended the PNG launch of the event, including Professor Nicholas Rowe,
UNESCO Chair in Dance and Social Inclusion and the project leader of the INTRACOMP
project, from the University of Auckland.
Prof Rowe said that he sought to include Papua New Guinea within the project, as it is on the
front line of climate change and brings strong lessons in how to sustain complex cultural
diversity in the face of environmental uncertainty.
He said “The Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies is a world leader in arts and cultural
research and has much to contribute to global understandings of cultural difference and
diversity. For those that know the rich and diverse cultural knowledge systems of this land,
PNG is the obvious choice for a project like this.”
Scholars working on the project include Dr Naomi Faik Simet, Assistant Director – Dance at
the Institute of PNG Studies, Dr Jane Awi Executive Director of the Somare Research
Institute at the University of Goroka, and Dr Sophie Naime, Lecturer in Theatre Arts from the
University of Papua New Guinea.
Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda MBE, Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission,
expressed enthusiasm for the INTRACOMP project, stating “On behalf of the government of
Papua New Guinea, we express our sincere gratitude to Professor Rowe and Dr Faik Simet
for bringing the INTRACOMP project to PNG.
“The investment that it is bringing to cultural research in Papua New Guinea is in direct
alignment with the goals of the National Cultural Commission.”
Kilanda emphasizes the importance of this project, as the first investment of Horizon Europe
in Papua New Guinea, and that it represents a strong and growing partnership between Papua
New Guinea and the European Union, “We take INTRACOMP very seriously.
“It is a very significant project for us, and we are planning to collaborate by bringing more
investment from Papua New Guinea into growing our capacity in research in the cultural
sector. We are very much looking forward to further partnerships with the European Union, to
bring the rich knowledge of Papua New Guinea to the world.”
Stéphanie Vaddé, Head of Political, Information and Press Section at the Delegation of the
European Union to Papua New Guinea, valued this connection between PNG and the world,
expressing that “The European Union Delegation to Papua New Guinea was very happy to
witness the launch of the EU-funded INTRACOMP project.
“This first project involving PNG partners under the Horizon Europe programme opens very
promising perspectives to all involved. With the development of global, regional and national
educational frameworks for arts and culture, it is very much our common future that is being
shaped.”
Dr Andrew Madjar, from the School of Education at the University Auckland discussed the
global significance of the INTRACOMP project, “Climate mobility is a challenge for the
world, and educations systems around the world need to collaborate on effective responses.”.
As PNG project leader Dr Naomi Faik-Simet suggests, “This is only the beginning.
INTRACOMP provides a basis for much further investment in capacity building in cultural
research across PNG.”