Jayapura, June 13, 2025 – In a landmark move to address human resource development challenges in Indonesia’s easternmost region, the Tolikara Regency Government and Cenderawasih University (Uncen) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday (6/13) at Uncen’s Faculty of Economics and Business.
The agreement marks a collaborative effort to enhance education, applied research, and community empowerment programs tailored to the needs of Papua’s highland communities.
Tolikara Regent Willem Wandik emphasized that the partnership aims to bridge gaps in human capital through innovation and education. “This is a concrete step toward equipping our people with skills to drive regional progress,” Wandik stated. The initiative will prioritize vocational training, scholarship programs, and entrepreneurship development to create immediate community impact.
Uncen Rector Dr. Oscar Oswald O. Wambraw affirmed the university’s role in providing research-backed solutions: “Our academic resources will focus on actionable studies to tackle Tolikara’s unique challenges, from agricultural productivity to digital literacy.”
Fully funded by the Tolikara government, the five-year partnership includes:
• Pilot projects for skill-based education
• Internship programs linking students to local industries
• Joint research on sustainable development in Papua’s highlands
The regency—where geographic isolation and limited infrastructure hinder education access—hopes this model can be replicated across Indonesia’s underdeveloped regions.
Experts hail the collaboration as a potential game-changer for Papua, where literacy rates lag behind the national average. “Such government-university synergies could accelerate inclusive growth in marginalized areas,” said Dr. Wambraw. With Papua’s development disparities under national spotlight, this partnership underscores the urgency of localized solutions. If successful, it may inspire similar initiatives across Indonesia’s 3,000-mile archipelago
