A Papua New Guinean who is in New Zealand for foreign service training says that for young graduates like her, engaging with neighbouring countries is most beneficial.
Maria Dolores Biaun is one of ten recruits chosen from a pool of around 600 applicants for the 9-month Foreign Service Training Programme.
For the programme, PNG's Department of Foreign Affairs works in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand to prepare the recruits, as well as serving officers from other departments, with the skills and knowledge of diplomacy.
Maria Dolores Biaun, recruit with the Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs Department. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Ms Biaun says being in New Zealand has been inspiring and enriching.
"Especially when we are engaged with people who have experiences from different countries and different levels, so for us new intakes, it was an eye-opener for us and also a privilege and opportunity to come and sit with people from different backgrounds, and to learn. I feel very privileged to be one of those. And I find this programme very useful too."
Ms Biaun said interest in foreign service among university graduates is high.
She said not a lot of PNG's government departments have graduate development programmes.
"University students, they come out, they look for jobs. The department is not only focussed on students who are under the social science discipline, but it is recruiting students with science background, so we have alot of applicants. So the interest is very high."
