PNG University of Technology Partners with James Cook University in Landmark Research Collaboration
Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG UoT) and James Cook University (JCU) in Australia have entered into a landmark partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen academic collaboration and research between the two institutions.
The historic agreement, signed by JCU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs and PNG UoT Vice-Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi OL, opens pathways for joint research and staff exchanges in key areas such as tropical and marine science, agriculture, biosecurity, and public health.
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| PNG University of Technology Partners with James Cook University in Landmark Research Collaboration [Photo supplied] |
Professor Renagi led a PNG UoT delegation to JCU’s Bebegu Yumba campus in Townsville for a two-day visit, which included discussions with the engineering and human resources departments and academic leaders from TropWATER.
Professor Biggs said the partnership would enhance both universities’ scientific capacity and regional understanding. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to collaborate across sciences, health and other areas to broaden both parties’ knowledge and understanding,” he said.
He highlighted that JCU already has significant research activity in PNG, with about 60 scientists from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine conducting studies on mosquito-borne diseases. “We hope this partnership will further strengthen the relationship between our two nations,” he added.
Professor Renagi said the collaboration comes at a time when PNG UoT aims to expand beyond traditional fields. “We’ve focused heavily on engineering and mining, but our country’s vast natural resources—our oceans, mountains, and rivers—remain underexplored,” he said.
He noted that working with JCU offers an opportunity to shift academic priorities toward tropical research. “We need to think beyond standard curriculums and use this partnership to develop a knowledge hub for our natural environments,” Professor Renagi said.
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