China’s Higher Education Diplomacy at the University of Goroka

By Bernard Yegiora 

The recent Post-Courier article “UoG warms up people to people bond with China” provides a snapshot of how China is embedding itself in PNG’s higher education sector. What may appear as a colourful cultural event—martial arts, Mandarin displays, and Chinese cuisine—is in fact part of a broader process of soft power projection. As my PhD research examines the influence of China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs on PNG–China relations, this article offers valuable evidence of how such programs are taking shape at the institutional and cultural level.

University of Goroka Vice Chancellor Dr. Teng Waninga samples Chinese cuisine during the Sino–PNG cultural exchange, highlighting how food diplomacy complements language and education programs in shaping people-to-people ties.

At the heart of the article is the framing of “people-to-people” diplomacy. This is central to my study, which looks at how exchange programs, scholarships, and language initiatives create interpersonal connections that reinforce state-to-state ties. UoG’s cultural exchange event demonstrates how bilateral agreements are not confined to diplomatic communiqués in Port Moresby and Beijing; they are lived and experienced on PNG campuses through food, performance, and shared spaces.

The report also highlights institutional linkages: UoG has signed Memoranda of Understanding with eight Chinese universities, and seven PNG students have already been sent to China. These details matter because they show that China’s higher education engagement in PNG is not ad hoc but embedded in a long-term strategy of academic cooperation. In my research, I treat these agreements as part of the “nature and scope” theme, which tracks how universities are internationalizing through partnerships with China.

Equally important is the role of language programs. At UoG, Mandarin classes and cultural showcases are not just extracurricular activities; they are soft power tools that normalize China’s presence in PNG’s academic life. My project has already documented Chinese language programs at the UoG, the University of Technology, and Murray Barracks. Events like these confirm that such programs are crucial in cultivating cultural affinity and shaping how students perceive China.

The article also draws attention to the China Railway Construction & Engineering Group’s role in building UoG’s new administration block and forum square. This underscores the interlinkage of hard and soft power. China invests in physical infrastructure while simultaneously sponsoring cultural diplomacy on the same campus. For my research, this reinforces the argument that higher education exchange programs cannot be studied in isolation; they are often coupled with broader economic and strategic interests.

Yet the article is notably celebratory and one-sided. It does not ask critical questions about local agency, power imbalances, or whether PNG’s cultural identity is equally valued in these exchanges. These silences are revealing. As I move through the qualitative phase of my research—conducting follow-up interviews and coding media reports—this kind of article becomes a useful text for analysis. It shows how the PNG media frames China’s engagement, often reproducing positive narratives while neglecting critical perspectives.

For my PhD project, this article fits neatly into my qualitative dataset. I can code it under categories such as language programs, institutional partnerships, cultural diplomacy, and infrastructure linkages. It complements the voices I am gathering from students, alumni, and public sector participants by showing how Chinese engagement is represented publicly in PNG’s national media. The contrast between media narratives and participant experiences will form an important strand of my analysis.

In conclusion, the Post-Courier piece offers more than a feel-good story of cultural exchange; it provides raw empirical material for understanding how China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs are embedded in PNG society. For researchers, it highlights the interplay of education, culture, and strategy. For policymakers, it illustrates the subtle ways China strengthens its influence at the grassroots level. And for my ongoing study, it is another reminder that the story of Sino-PNG relations is being written not only in diplomatic circles but also in classrooms, auditoriums, and media headlines.