The University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration’s Master of Public Administration Program was able to send off all prospective graduates to Saipan for the 2016 Business and Finance Conference.

Guided by the program chair Dr. John J. Rivera, the MPA program proudly represented the university at the 2016 Business and Finance Conference, which was held on Sept. 15-16, 2016 at the Saipan World Resort, Royal Taga A. The event is hosted by Bank of Guam, Commonwealth Development Authority, and Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

The MPA students showed great effort and commitment by completely funding their trip themselves. They were able to raise some money through a bar fundraiser prior to their departure.

The purpose of our trip was to attend the CNMI business and finance conference to get a better understanding of CNMI’s economy because our practicum project is to study CNMI’s current status and then

“This was a great learning experience,” says Oreng R. Ngemaes, a prospective graduate in the MPA program, while also adding, “I learned so many things. To be able to sit in and to hear the locals voice out their thoughts and opinions helped me gain a better understanding of CNMI’s major economic issues and it will surely help us put together a good report by the end of the semester to address some of the issues brought up.”

Ngemaes also added that the same group of students will be going back to Saipan in early December to present their studies and policy recommendations to the CNMI legislature, chamber of commerce, and all locals who will be able to attend.

For more information on the UOG Master of Public Administration program, contact Dr. Rivera at jrivera@uguam.uog.edu.