Education reform is top of the agenda for PhD scholar
Uke Kombra’s determined eyes are fixed on education reform in his home country of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
His position in PNG’s Department of Education places him in a unique position to make a positive and lasting change.
As such he was awarded an Australian Leadership Award (ALA) earlier this year and is working towards a PhD in Education.
“My PhD focus is on education policy accountability and I hope to apply these research models to better develop education throughout Papua New Guinea”
“It has always been my goal to further my education. Coming back from my studies, I will be in a better position to fulfil this role,” he said
ALA Scholarships are awarded to the academically elite, and aim to develop leadership and build partnerships and linkages within the Asia-Pacific.
The scholarship also includes a Leadership Development Program in Australia, to enhance participants’ understanding of the challenges at national, regional and global levels.
“Attending a three-day conference in Canberra last month as part or the ALA program was a valuable opportunity to further develop our leadership skills and network with other ALA scholars,” he said.
Also an awardee of the prestigious Allison Sudradjat scholarship, Uke receives additional funding for research or a professional work placement. The scholarship honours the memory of Allison Sudradjat, the former head of the Australian aid program in Indonesia whose life was tragically cut short in a plane crash in Indonesia on 7 March last year.
Uke’s decision to study at QUT was influenced by his colleagues’ study experiences, as well as the partnership between QUT and the PNG Department of Education.
This partnership has involved collaboration on several projects related to education reform, including raising the quality and relevance of teacher education and promoting gender equity and change management.
Besides enjoying the challenge of his PhD, Uke has found the support at QUT as an international student very helpful, particularly his experience with accommodation services.
“I thought finding accommodation was going to be challenging, however accommodation services were very willing to help and even took me out to do a site inspection of a house,” he said.
Recently Uke’s wife and three children arrived in Brisbane, so he feels supported professionally and personally at QUT while he completes his studies.
