When Papua New Guinean scholar Jessica Magala stepped into the Ministry for Pacific Peoples for her summer internship, she expected to learn about policy. What she didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would shape her confidence, her sense of belonging, and her understanding of Aotearoa’s public sector.

Working within the Operations team, Jessica contributed to a ministerial project exploring how Pacific education providers could engage with micro‑credentials — an emerging area of innovation in tertiary learning. She researched, drafted memos, and supported policy conversations that directly influence Pacific communities.

One of the defining moments of her internship came when she shared her billum weaving with international visitors from the World Crafts Council, connecting culture, creativity, and diplomacy in a way that felt both natural and deeply meaningful.