Kokopo Business College

“Other organisations and colleges see what a difference it makes having volunteers and they ask and want to know how to get a volunteer to help them.”

John Karis, Deputy Principal, Kokopo Business College

What does Kokopo Business College do?

The Kokopo Business College or KBC is a government-owned institution which offers courses in business, management, computing, tourism hospitality and other business-related disciplines. It offers four full-time courses in business-related disciplines, with a range of short courses offered both in house and tailored specifically to business needs. The college staff also collaborate with local businesses to provide placement and practical opportunities for students.

Graduation ceremony

How does VSA work with KBC?

VSA has been working with KBC since 2007 with volunteers assisting in small business and management training, IT and computing training and infrastructure establishment and the management and operation of the college library. Volunteers work with staff providing on-the-job training, advice, mentoring and coaching; they also assist with some direct teaching of students and help with the networking within the local business and government sectors.  Another key network has been the linkage and a signing of a MoU with EIT in Hawke Bay to promote the sharing of information and tertiary vocational education practices. 

Kokopo College Library

Information board

What KBC says about VSA

“The volunteers provide mentoring and capacity building and we hope the local staff can learn as much as they can from them.  The volunteers bring a new viewpoint from outside – it is good exposure for us to what is going on outside. VSA helps uplift the work they do. VSA has helped us get more capacity so we can venture into other communities and we can better support communities outside and help with more input into communities.”

John Kiele, Principal, Kokopo Business College

Visit the Kokopo Business College website

Country Profile

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PNG is the largest nation in the Pacific with a majority Melanesian population of over six million. Over 850 indigenous languages are still in use by people from a society that ranges from traditional village-based life to modern urban living. View country

VSA volunteers with this partner organisation

Vacancies with this partner organisation

• Strategic Management Adviser, Papua New Guinea (1857)
  Assist the Kokopo Business College in developing key partnerships. Kokopo Business College or KBC (originally set up... View vacancy

• Tertiary Education Adviser, Papua New Guinea (3179)
  Support the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework at Kokopo Business College. Kokopo Business College (KBC) is... View vacancy

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