Building a Mentorship System Around Our Four-Strand Curriculum

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by Bernard Yegiora

The BA (PNG and International Studies) program is anchored in four disciplinary strands—International Relations, Political Studies, Community Development, and Culture Studies. These strands form the academic framework of the program and are clearly articulated in the Program Specification Document (PSD). Each strand carries its own theoretical foundations and methodological expectations, requiring appropriate disciplinary leadership to maintain cohesion and academic integrity.

Categorization of units in the Program Specification Document

Strengthening the program now demands a structured academic mentorship system embedded within each strand. Strand leadership is not confined to classroom delivery. It involves guiding junior colleagues, protecting disciplinary standards, and sustaining the intellectual direction of the curriculum. This structured approach is essential for quality assurance and long-term program development.

The International Relations strand provides a concrete example. I currently lead the strand, supported by our sessional lecturer Mr. Lahui Ako, whose diplomatic experience provides significant practical depth. Together, we mentor two understudies who are gradually being developed into the discipline. I understand firsthand the importance of this system. When I entered academia, I had no mentor to guide me. I had to learn the hard way—building my teaching, research, and disciplinary identity through trial and error. Our current mentoring system ensures upcoming academics do not experience the same gap.

A similar opportunity exists within the Political Studies strand. The teaching of governance, state institutions, electoral processes, and political theory requires strong disciplinary grounding. With clear leadership in place, the strand is well-positioned to establish a mentoring system that strengthens staff capacity and ensures continuity in teaching quality.

The Culture Studies strand requires immediate reinforcement. This strand encompasses six units grounded in anthropology, ethnography, Melanesian cultural interpretation, and social history. Such content cannot be taught effectively without specialised training. Without an academic leader who possesses this disciplinary background and is able to mentor others, the strand risks losing coherence. Strengthening Culture Studies means recruiting an anthropologist who can lead the strand and guide junior colleagues.

The Community Development strand also benefits from deliberate mentorship. Its units require the integration of theory and applied practice in areas such as participatory development, social change, and community engagement. Only through structured guidance can junior academics build competence and deliver the strand to the standard expected by the curriculum.

Going forward, recruitment must be aligned with the four strands set out in the PSD. Appointments must not be general or incidental; they must intentionally strengthen a discipline, contribute to the mentoring system, and support the long-term development of academic capability. Recruitment guided by curriculum ensures that each strand has the right expertise at its core.

The long-term sustainability of the BA (PNG and International Studies) program depends on this mentoring culture. By recruiting with the four strands in mind and establishing strong academic leadership supported by structured mentorship, we will safeguard program quality, build internal capability, and ensure that upcoming academics benefit from a system that many of us did not have. This is how we consolidate the academic strength of the program and secure its future.

 

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