Pakop never planned on becoming a teacher, but after discovering a natural talent for it, he’s now combining his passion with innovation. Studying a Graduate Certificate in STEM Education at Curtin, he’s preparing to bring hands-on learning and new opportunities back to classrooms in Papua New Guinea.
Can one short course change not just your career, but your whole community? Pakop believes his 12 weeks in Perth will ripple across Papua New Guinea.
For Pakop, teaching wasn’t the career he first imagined. Although wanting to be a social scientist upon graduation, he found opportunities in that space were limited in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and instead accepted a teaching role. To his surprise, it was a natural fit.
“I tried it, and I found that teaching and learning is something I am good at. From private school to state school, I challenged myself, and eventually I found the passion in me for teaching.”
That passion brought him to Curtin to study a Graduate Certificate in STEM Education, an experience he never expected to have. He first encountered STEM opportunities through programs that run between universities in PNG and Australia during COVID, sparking his curiosity. When a friend forwarded on the application, encouraging him to apply, he decided to give it a go.
Arriving in Perth was a surprise, as he didn’t even know where it was when he applied. But settling into Curtin, he’s valued the chance to learn from experienced STEM educators and connect with a wider network.
“The supervisors, the lecturers, the unit coordinators, they are really committed to the purpose of learning. But Curtin is also aware that you need to enjoy your time here. Those experiences enrich me to see things from different lenses.”
The 12-week course was fast-paced, which has been both exciting and challenging.
“There is a lot to learn in twelve weeks. My challenge is to make use of this short time to learn as much as I can, so that I can go and implement it back in my country for my institution, my students, my community and my country.”
For Pakop, the impact of this knowledge will extend well beyond his own classroom. He believes that what he gains from his experience at uni here will multiply tenfold when he takes them to the classrooms back home. He wants to equip his students with new and innovative skills that will impact their own students. He sees the passing on of knowledge as exponentially beneficial.
One of his biggest passions is innovation; something he sees thriving in Australia but still developing in PNG.
“In my country, we normally teach using theories and knowledge. Hands-on experience is quite lacking. But here, I see products born out of innovation.”
Inspired, he has already been exploring ways to source robotics parts for his students back home.
“Simple things like this cannot be done in my country because there is no hands-on experience. But it can happen through collaborations. I’d probably start with the little space that I have and then venture out.”
Looking ahead, Pakop hopes to continue his studies with Curtin at postgraduate level while contributing to education and innovation in PNG. He believes that PNG is a land of opportunities, and that amongst the negative media reporting, there are very friendly people, and it is a land worth exploring in academic opportunities and research.
For Pakop, the journey has been about discovering his passion, seizing unexpected opportunities and thinking about the bigger picture. Teaching came naturally to him, but STEM has given him the knowledge, skills and practices to multiply that impact for the next generation.
