PRIYA AND THE CLASSROOM OF POSSIBILITY | HOW ONE EDUCATOR IS REIMAGINING CREATIVITY AND CONFIDENCE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
In many universities around the world, education unfolds quietly — inside lecture theatres, between the pages of textbooks, measured through grades and exams. But at IBS University in Papua New Guinea, something more vibrant has been taking place. Here, learning sometimes walks down a runway, confidence grows under stage lights, and creativity becomes a language of its own.
At the centre of this unexpected movement stands Dr Muthu Prabha V, affectionately known to many students simply as Priya.
To describe Priya only as an educator would miss the essence of who she is. She arrives in a room with an energy that is immediately felt — warm, luminous, and deeply encouraging. Students often describe her as bubbly, generous, and endlessly supportive, someone whose presence seems to brighten a space before she has even begun speaking.
There is something almost iridescent about her spirit — a quiet glow that reflects curiosity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the potential of young people.
And perhaps what makes her impact even more remarkable is this: Papua New Guinea is not her home country.
Yet in the years she has spent here, she has become one of the most passionate advocates for nurturing the creativity, confidence, and future of its youth.
Seeing Possibility Where Others See Limits
Priya often says that life itself is a canvas — a collection of experiences that shape who we become.
Beyond the classroom, she is someone who notices beauty everywhere: in art, in nature, in culture, and most of all, in people.
Her work with students is rooted in a belief that education should not simply transfer knowledge, but awaken something deeper — curiosity, imagination, and self-belief.
“My passion,” she explains, “is nurturing the 21st-century skills that young people need — creativity, communication, confidence, and resilience.”
These are the skills that prepare students not just for jobs, but for life in a rapidly changing world.
And sometimes, she has discovered, those lessons emerge in the most unexpected places.
Like the runway.
When Fashion Becomes Education
To many observers, fashion is often mistaken for glamour alone. A spectacle of lights, garments, and applause.
But Priya sees something far more meaningful.
Fashion, she believes, is a tool for transformation.
It allows students to explore identity, experiment with creativity, and develop confidence in ways traditional academic settings rarely allow. On a runway, a shy student might discover the power of presence. Behind the scenes, another might uncover a talent for styling, organising, or creative direction.
“Universities are not only places for memorising information,” Priya says. “They should be spaces where students learn to think, create, and express themselves.”
Fashion, in her view, bridges education with the real world — teaching teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and resilience.
In short, it teaches students how to believe in themselves.
The Bridge Between IBS University and PNG Fashion Week
The relationship between IBS University and PNG Fashion Week began unexpectedly.
It started with a student — Vincent Kepi — who was involved in the modelling industry and introduced Priya to the platform. What she saw immediately sparked a vision.
Here was a national creative movement that could become an extraordinary learning opportunity for students.
From that moment, the Level Up Fashion Show at IBS University evolved from a student activity into something far more significant.
By inviting PNG Fashion Week mentors and judges to guide students, Priya created a bridge between education and industry — allowing students to gain real-world exposure, mentorship, and inspiration.
What began as an experiment soon became a tradition.
And every year, something magical happens.
The Moment Confidence Appears
Ask Priya what moves her most, and she will not speak about awards or applause.
Instead, she talks about the moment a student discovers their confidence.
The nervous anticipation backstage.
The laughter shared among friends.
The hesitant first steps onto the runway.
And then — the transformation.
Students who once doubted themselves begin to walk with assurance. They stand taller. They speak more boldly. They begin to see themselves differently.
“I have watched students who started shy become confident leaders,” she says.
For Priya, those moments are the reason she believes so deeply in creativity as part of education.
Because confidence, once discovered, changes everything.
A Home Away From Home
Though Priya’s journey began far from Papua New Guinea, her connection to the country has grown deeply personal.
Living and working away from one’s homeland is never easy. It requires courage, adaptability, and openness.
Yet Priya has embraced Papua New Guinea with genuine warmth — celebrating its culture, encouraging its young people, and recognising the extraordinary creative potential that exists here.
She often speaks with admiration about the country’s artistic heritage and the way the next generation is blending tradition with contemporary expression.
What excites her most is seeing young designers reinterpret traditional elements — bilum textures, tribal motifs, cultural storytelling — in ways that feel modern yet deeply rooted.
To her, this fusion represents the future.
A future where Papua New Guinea’s creative voice is heard far beyond its shores.
Leadership with Heart
In Priya’s philosophy, leadership in education is not about authority or control.
It is about empowerment.
A true educational leader, she believes, listens carefully, encourages courage, and opens doors for students to discover possibilities they may never have imagined.
Her own leadership style reflects the warmth and generosity students so often notice about her.
She mentors with patience.
She celebrates creativity.
And she reminds students that their ideas matter.
Because in her eyes, every student carries the potential to become a creator, an innovator, or a leader.
A Language Called Style
If fashion were a language, Priya believes Papua New Guinea would speak it with extraordinary richness.
Its words would be culture.
Its sentences would be resilience.
And its voice would be creativity.
For her, style is most powerful when it honours heritage. Traditional adornments and cultural symbolism are not simply decorative — they are expressions of identity and history.
When young people embrace these elements in contemporary design, they are not just making fashion.
They are telling stories about who they are.
Looking Ahead
The partnership between IBS University and PNG Fashion Week continues to grow — evolving into a platform for mentorship, innovation, and opportunity.
Priya envisions a future where students can turn creativity into meaningful careers — not only within fashion, but across the broader creative industries.
For her, education should do more than prepare students for employment.
It should prepare them for possibility.
A Message for Dreamers
For young Papua New Guineans who dream of entering fashion or the creative industries, Priya offers advice that is simple yet powerful.
“Believe in your talent. Be fearless in expressing your ideas. Seek mentors, learn constantly, and never stop exploring your creativity.”
Because your culture, your perspective, and your voice are valuable.
And sometimes, the greatest impact we can have is helping others realise their own potential.
In Papua New Guinea, Dr Muthu Prabha V — Priya — has done exactly that.
Far from her homeland, she has become a quiet force of encouragement, lighting pathways for young creatives and reminding them that education is not only about knowledge.
It is about discovering who you are — and having the courage to share that with the world.