The National Cultural Commission has played a growing role in strengthening Papua New Guinea’s future workforce since launching its internship programme in 2022, as it farewelled seven University of Papua New Guinea students who have successfully completed internships and short-term professional attachments.
The farewell was held on 6 February at the NCC headquarters in Port Moresby and highlighted the importance of structured workplace training in preparing young Papua New Guineans to enter the labour market with confidence, discipline and practical experience.
The NCC hosts up to eight university students annually, providing hands-on exposure to organisational operations, project management, service delivery and research support within a national institution. The programme aligns with broader workforce development objectives by helping bridge the gap between education and employment.
The 2025–26 cohort included students from two academic streams. From the UPNG School of Business and Public Policy, Jennah Kum, Gahusi Gabutu and Constie Raivia commenced their internships on 20 October 2025, and completed placements that provided insight into public-sector administration, policy processes and organisational management.
Their training focused on practical skills increasingly sought by employers, including professional communication, teamwork, accountability and exposure to institutional governance — competencies transferable across both public and private sector workplaces.
The remaining four students were from the UPNG School of Humanities and Social Sciences and were placed across the NCC and the Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. Samuel Aniu, Gibson Lita and Bitty Yakumb were engaged as short-term contract officers under the INTRACOM Project at IPNGS, supporting cultural research, documentation and project implementation. Nemiah Yakuman joined the NCC on 2 November 2025, and was attached to the NCC Gift Shop, gaining operational and customer service experience.
Collectively, the interns contributed to NCC and IPNGS outputs while developing workplace competencies that strengthened their professional skills and experience.
The farewell event was attended by Acting IPNGS Director Chris Poui, IPNGS Dance Director Dr. Naomi Faik Simet and NCC staff. Speaking on behalf of NCC Executive Director Steven Enomb Kilanda, MBE, Simet said structured mentoring and skills development are critical investments in Papua New Guinea’s future workforce.
“When we invest in young people, we invest in the future of Papua New Guinea,” Simet said.
She added that the internships help build confidence, discipline and purpose, ensuring graduates are better prepared to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Under Kilanda’s leadership, the internship programme has continued to strengthen, providing students with exposure to professional environments while supporting institutional capacity. For employers, such programmes help ensure graduates enter the workforce with practical experience rather than theory alone.
Speaking on behalf of the interns, Aniu said the opportunity had shaped his professional outlook and career direction.
“Working within IPNGS has broadened my understanding of how national institutions operate. Learning directly from experienced professionals has been invaluable and has helped clarify my future path,” he said.
The students also thanked NCC management for entrusting them with real responsibilities while enabling them to complete academic requirements and contribute to organisational objectives.
The NCC internship programme highlights the value of partnerships between educational institutions and workplaces in developing job-ready graduates. By embedding students in real operational settings, the initiative supports smoother transitions into employment and strengthens the national talent pipeline.
As Papua New Guinea continues to prioritise human capital development, initiatives such as the NCC internship programme demonstrate how targeted workplace training can deliver long-term economic and workforce benefits by equipping young Papua New Guineans with the skills, experience and professionalism needed to support public and private sector growth.
