On Friday, 23^rd May 2025, a team from IBSUniversity met with members of the Telikom’s Governing bodies at Telikom Rumana’s office to discuss and to officially sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Telikom team included Mr. Amos Tepi-Telikom CEO; Mr.Brian Mape- Head of Strategic & Innovation, Mr. Vincent Henry-Head of Legal & Regulatory, Mr. Poyep Kilepak-Acting Head of Corporate Services, Yando Nimbo,- Acting Manager of NOC (Network Operation Centre); and Denmark Wilson-Mobile Planning Manager.

The MoU’s agreement outlines several ways in which both organizations will work together for the benefit of students, graduates, and working professionals. The MoU outlines four key areas of collaboration:

1. Student Internships
   Telikom will provide internship opportunities for IBSUniversity students, allowing them to apply their academic knowledge in a practical environment and gain valuable experience into workplace expectations.
2. Staff Training and Exchange of Ideas
   IBSUniversity will deliver tailored training programs for Telikom staff. In addition, both parties plan to host tech talks, webinars, and seminars to facilitate the exchange of ideas and share developments in the technology sector.
3. Graduate Employment Opportunities
   Through IBSU’s Placement Cell, Telikom pledges to recruit promising graduating students who are interested in contributing to the telecommunications sector.
4. Course Review and Industry Input
   An Industry-Academia Board will be established to review and strengthen current IBSU programs, so they remain relevant and up to date with changing industry needs.

This initiative comes at a time when university graduates are expected to leave with more than just theoretical knowledge. It is increasingly important for students to gain real-world exposure and understand how concepts are applied outside of the lecture rooms. Both Telikom and IBSUniversity acknowledge this need and are working together to offer students a more well-rounded educational experience—one that combines academic learning with practical experience.

This joint effort shows IBSUniversity’s ongoing commitment to build long-term working relationships with respected organisations around the country. Telikom, as a major player in PNG’s telecom space, brings in real-world knowledge that can help guide how students are trained for the jobs ahead. Both sides see strong potential in working together and understand how this could benefit students as they prepare to enter the workforce.

This is another important step for IBSUniversity in strengthening the bridge between academia and industry—supporting students in their academic journey while preparing them for professional success.