Dear Students, Staff, Partners and Benefactors,

On behalf of Divine Word University (DWU) communities across all campuses in Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Wewak and Tabubil, I wish to introduce DWU's theme for 2022. "Run to win together."   This theme comes from our DWU motto "Sic currite ut comprehendatis” – “Run to Win”, — not in a ruthless competitive way, but as an honest effort to achieve our full potential. DWU's philosophy integrates total human development and it is expressed in self-reliance and community service. In 2022 we want to put new effort into running together as a team.

We are living in a time of a pandemic when the whole world is challenge to rethink the way we live a "new normal" that will lead to better health for people and for the whole of creation.  Over the past year we have learned that this is something we have to do together.  We follow the protocols and get vaccinated not just for ourselves but in order to care for those around us.  With our scholarly resources and our access to scientific research the University is placed in a special position to provide leadership in facing this challenge. We hope to say, like St Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7).

Following the spirit of the DWU Charter, Divine Word University will not run aimlessly or in vain (Gal 2:2), but will continue promoting the development of students as creative, intellectual persons in a religious environment, and provide every opportunity for intellectual and spiritual growth and development according to each individual's needs and ability. During the coming election year, we will continue to be an authentic model for national unity in PNG.

I renew the invitation to our partners, benefactors, donors, alumni, parents, and our partner the Government of Papua New Guinea, to join us in our mission to create a just society for Papua New Guinea and our neighbors.

We wish you a healthy, blessed and successful journey in 2022!

Professor Philip Gibbs SVD, STD, OBE

President