Armidale, NSW – The University of New England (UNE) has welcomed a senior delegation from the University of Goroka (UOG), Papua New Guinea, to its Armidale campus to formalise a new partnership aimed at advancing academic cooperation, research collaboration, and international student opportunities.

The visit on Monday 26 May 2025 culminated in the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking the beginning of a strategic partnership focused on joint initiatives in the fields of Education, Science & Technology, Business, Accounting, and Economics, as well as academic benchmarking and program accreditation. Professor Tamsyn Crowley – Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Research / Director Poultry Hub Australia co-signed the MOU document with Dr. Teng Waninga, The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Goroka.

The visit commenced with a ceremonial welcome, the MOU signing, a symbolic gift exchange, and informal conversations that laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration. Later in the day, UOG representatives met with UNE’s Acting Executive Principal Education Futures, Professor Leopold Beyerlein, and the International Strategy team to explore shared academic priorities and partnership possibilities.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Goroka, Dr. Teng Waninga, is a proud UNE alumnus, having completed his entire Higher Education at UNE. He completed his Bachelor of Education in 1993, his Master of Education with Honours in 1997 and his Doctor of Philosophy (Analysis of Congruency Occurring in Policy Development and Implementation Practices to Promote Gender Equity in Pre-Service Teacher Education in Papua New Guinea) in 2019. Dr. Waninga shared fond memories of living in Armidale, studying in the Madgwick Building and working part-time at the library during his time undertaking his PhD.

“It was an absolute pleasure for UNE to host the delegation from the University of Goroka. The two institutions have had a long history of collaboration – cemented by Goroka’s current Vice-Chancellor having studied at UNE for his undergraduate, postgraduate, and his higher degree by research,” said Ingrid Elliston, Director, International Strategy.

Following a campus tour that showcased UNE’s picturesque location in Australia’s highest city, the UOG delegation also met with staff from the School of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education (HASSE). Discussions focused on study abroad opportunities, joint programming, and future capacity-building initiatives.

The University of Goroka is the third-largest university in Papua New Guinea and the country’s leading institution for teacher education. Established in 1997, UOG was formed through the merger of the Goroka Teachers’ College and the Faculty of Education from the University of Papua New Guinea. Since then, UOG has continued to evolve, enhancing its curriculum and academic infrastructure to better serve the people of Papua New Guinea.

Thank you for the visit UOG!