The Yegiora Files

From November 22 to December 22, 2024, I conducted a pilot survey as part of my PhD research on how China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs (HEEPs) influence Sino–PNG relations. The pilot involved 20 participants and was designed to test the structure, clarity, and effectiveness of my survey instrument. It aimed to uncover how programs like the Chinese Government Scholarship Program (CGSP), Chinese Language Programs (CLPs), and Public Sector Training Programs (PSTPs) shape educational diplomacy and soft power in PNG. This preparatory step helped identify ways to refine the methodology before launching the main survey. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling using my personal and professional networks, including contacts on LinkedIn. I invited 30 individuals to participate and 20 responded. Of those, 55% were male and 45% were female . The average completion time was 22.35 minutes. Despite the limited number, their feedback was critical in exposing gaps and ambiguitie...

In recent years, PNG has expanded its educational engagement with China through a growing number of scholarship and training opportunities. These include not only the Chinese Government Scholarship Programs (CGSPs), Chinese Language Programs (CLPs), and Public Sector Training Programs (PSTPs), but also students who are privately sponsored, supported by their district development funds, or recipients of the PNG Government’s STEM scholarship program. As a PhD candidate at Divine Word University, my research seeks to understand how all these diverse forms of higher education exchanges collectively influence the nature of Sino–PNG relations. Presenting my research proposal during my PhD confirmation seminar. Photo courtesy of Lake Media. The title of my study is: “The Influence of China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs on Sino–Papua New Guinea Relations: A Soft Power Analysis.” I am using soft power as a theoretical lens to examine how education functions not just as a tool for human...

In a recent interview covered by Bastille Post , Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko praised the Butuka China–PNG Friendship School as a “school of excellence” and a cornerstone of PNG–China bilateral ties. He emphasized that the school’s modern infrastructure and bilingual education programs represent a model for what educational diplomacy can achieve. His remarks suggest a desire to scale up such partnerships across the country, prompting the question: should Madang be the next location for a China–PNG Friendship School? Tkatchenko pointed to Butuka Academy’s success in promoting people-to-people links, including producing students fluent in Chinese. These achievements, he argued, go beyond pedagogy and into the realm of diplomacy, where education becomes a tool for strengthening bilateral relations. For a province like Madang—strategically important, economically vibrant, yet educationally underserved—this vision offers both symbolic and practical potential. Mad...

China’s growing footprint in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) higher education sector is most visibly expressed through a diverse range of exchange programs that now form a key pillar of Sino-PNG relations. These programs—ranging from full scholarships and language courses to vocational training and institutional partnerships—reflect a deliberate strategy by Beijing to cultivate goodwill, shape public opinion, and build long-term partnerships with the next generation of PNG leaders. This soft power approach complements China’s broader foreign policy goals in the Pacific, offering both opportunities and challenges for PNG’s development and diplomatic autonomy. Diagram showing the inventory of Chinese Higher Education Exchange Programs in PNG, including scholarships, language and cultural initiatives, institutional partnerships, and professional training pathways that contribute to China's soft power strategy in the Pacific. The most prominent among these programs is the Chinese Government S...

The recent Chinese Bridge–Chinese Proficiency Competitions held at Butuka Academy and the PNG University of Technology provide more than just a stage for language learning; they symbolize the expanding influence of China’s educational diplomacy in PNG. As a researcher examining China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs (HEEPs) and their impact on PNG–China relations, these events offer a timely case to explore how soft power strategies are playing out among PNG’s youth. Students perform a Tai Chi routine during the opening of the Chinese Bridge–Chinese Proficiency Competition at Butuka Academy in Port Moresby, showcasing the fusion of cultural diplomacy and educational exchange at the heart of PNG–China relations. The presence of senior Chinese diplomats, such as Ambassador Yang Xiaoguang and Counsellor Chen Jiliang, at both secondary and tertiary competitions indicates the high-level political and symbolic value China places on such platforms. These engagements go beyond the promotio...

Today marks the final opportunity for students, academics, public servants, and private sector professionals to participate in a national survey that will inform the development of a Postgraduate Program in Foreign Policy Analysis at Divine Word University . The survey officially closes tonight at 9:00 PM , and we encourage everyone who has not yet responded to take a few minutes to contribute their views. We extend our sincere thanks to all participants who have already completed the survey. Your insights are making a meaningful contribution to shaping a program that will reflect Papua New Guinea’s unique geopolitical, economic, and regional context . For those who are yet to take part, this is your chance to have your voice heard and help design a curriculum that prepares future leaders in diplomacy, trade, and international relations. The proposed postgraduate program is a strategic initiative that aligns with PNG Vision 2050 , which emphasizes institutional development, capacity...

PNG’s higher education system stands at a critical juncture. While the country has made commendable efforts to expand university access, concerns about academic quality, governance, and infrastructure continue to undermine the potential of its universities to attract international students or effectively host regional programs such as the New Colombo Plan. Australia and China—two countries deeply invested in the Pacific—have the capacity and interest to assist PNG in addressing these gaps. Doing so would not only strengthen PNG’s development trajectory but also serve broader strategic, diplomatic, and economic interests. PNG, Australian, and Chinese students share a moment outside the University of Papua New Guinea, symbolizing regional academic cooperation and the growing potential of PNG as a hub for international education. The New Colombo Plan, spearheaded by the Australian Government, encourages undergraduate students from Australia to study and undertake internships in the Indo-P...