Port Moresby, Barlow Industry Head Quarter, Papua New Guinea
July 24, 2025

IBSUniversity (IBSU) and IBS College of TVET have signed an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Barlow Industries, another milestone in strengthening academia-industry collaboration and creating valuable pathways for student development.

The Signing ceremony was held earlier today at the Barlow Industry HeadQuarter in Port Moresby, with senior representatives from both IBS College and IBSUniversity and Barlow Industry presented to officiate the MoU.

This partnership will provide internship opportunities for students to gain practical exposure, bridging the gap between classroom theory and industry expectations. This MoU is a shared commitment of both parties to help give the best to the students to be industry-relevant graduates equipped with practical knowledge and hands-on experience.

IBSUniversity Vice Chancellor Professor Ramachandran Arunachalam when giving his remark for this strategic collaboration, he said,

“We have a good business relationship with Barlow and the reason we are partnering with them, is to give our students practical experiences and we commit ourselves to make it beneficial for both IBSUniversity & Barlow Industry.”

The head of IBS College of TVET, Mr. Sagara Wijeratne acknowledged Barlow Industry for their forward-thinking vision, he said,

“This MoU strengthens our commitment to academia-industry partnership and marks a valuable step in bridging the gap between technical education and industry needs. It creates meaningful pathways for our students to gain practical experience and supports our goal of producing industry-relevant, job-ready graduates.”

Barlow Industries General Manager Kiran Shivaraj expressed his appreciation to IBSUniversity & IBS College of TVET and stated,

“Thank you for trusting us and giving us this opportunity for a partnership for student career development. We will provide a platform where students can gain practical exposure because we have some of the best professionals in the field who can mentor and train students during their internship period. Our aim is to help build capacity here in PNG, and by helping students grow, we’re supporting the wider community. This partnership offers Barlow the opportunity to give back through professional skills development for Papua New Guinea’s future.”

He further added that Barlow Industries will expose students to various departments within the organization, allowing them to shape their career paths. With experienced professionals who have worked both in PNG and abroad, students will receive quality mentoring during their internships—with the potential for high-performing students to transition into permanent employment.

This approach advances IBSUniversity & IBS College of TVET’s focus on bridging academic learning with workplace readiness.

Representing IBSUniversity and IBS College of TVET at the MoU signing were:

• Prof. Ramachandran Arunachalam, Vice Chancellor, IBSUniversity
• Mr. Sagara Wijeratne, Head of IBS College of TVET
• Mr. Wasa Malu, Academic Coordinator, IBS College of TVET
• Ms. Natasha Khulip, Quality Assurance Officer

Representing Barlow Industries were:

• Mr. Kiran Shivaraj, General Manager
• Mr. A.S. Nazeer Ali, Division Manager – Mesh & Rebar Division
• Ms. Padmaja Thole, Finance Controller & Corporate Service Manager
• Ms. Jasmine Ilatia, Sales Manager
• Ms. Edith Agaru, Senior HR Officer

This partnership is a shared vision between education and industry—developing talent, contributing to community progress, and building a capable workforce for Papua New Guinea.

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PC & Article By: IBSUniversity Marketing Team