The PIURN has officially welcomed Western Pacific University (WPU) as its 16th member institution, marking a significant step forward in regional collaboration in higher education. The PIURN University Vice-Chancellors unanimously approved this decision, at their Board Meeting during at the 6th PIURN Conference, 1-3 July 2025 at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, in Lae
Established in 2014, WPU is located at Ialibu in the Southern Highlands Province. WPU has quickly emerged as a vital hub for digital empowerment, particularly for remote and underserved communities in Papua New Guinea. WPU becomes the 7th Papua New Guinea university to join the regional network, further strengthening the country’s contribution to higher education and research across the Pacific.
Through its focus in digital innovation and inclusive education, WPU’s integration into the PIURN reinforces the collective mission of Pacific universities to build capacity, share and generate knowledge, and empower island communities through regional cooperation
