Liwinia Kari is among ten female students awarded the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA) scholarship for 2026, a program aimed at supporting women pursuing studies in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Ms. Kari, who is of mixed Morobe, Madang and Central parentage, is currently in her second year of studies, undertaking a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech).
She first received the NICTA scholarship in 2025 during her first year after learning about the opportunity through NICTA’s social media platforms.
She said the scholarship provides full coverage of tuition fees, boarding and lodging, as well as a living stipend.
Ms. Kari said maintaining the scholarship required strong academic commitment, including a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
“I’m grateful that I was able to maintain my scholarship through commitment to my studies,” she said in a media conference yesterday.
“Most of my time is dedicated to my coursework because this scholarship is very important to me.”
Her mother, Caroline Sauba, expressed heartfelt appreciation to NICTA for easing the financial burden on the family.
“Every year, school fees continue to increase across institutions. I find great relief knowing my daughter is supported through the NICTA scholarship,” Ms. Sauba said.
She thanked the authority for its continued support and expressed hope that the scholarship would be extended to her daughter and other young women in the future.
The NICTA scholarship program reflects the authority’s commitment to inclusivity and the promotion of socio-economic development through increased female participation in ICT and STEM-related fields.
As part of its ongoing support, NICTA is offering two fully funded scholarships for 2026. Female students who completed Year 12 in 2025 and have secured placement at a higher education institution in Papua New Guinea to study ICT or other STEM-related courses are encouraged to apply.
Applications close at the end of February 2026.