Don Bosco Technological Institute was conceived after a group of Catholic Bishops in 1990 requested the Salesians of Don Bosco in Papua New Guinea to establish a college that would train local teachers for technical and vocational schools and colleges.

In 1994, the Salesians decided to start the construction of a teachers’ college for technical schools in PNG. In the following year the first phase of the construction began. It was originally named Don Bosco Technical Teachers’ College. Through the enormous help of the European Union and other funding agencies in Europe, the new college blossomed into a complex of buildings, workshops and lecture rooms.

The institute opened its doors in 1999 with the acceptance of the first batch of students as College freshmen. A total of 75 young men, mostly grade 12 school leavers from different secondary schools in the country comprised this pioneer group of students, who inaugurated the four-year degree program with specialisations in Electrical, Electronics, and Maintenance Fitting and Machining technologies. With the entry of the second batch of students in 2000, two other technologies were added to the program, namely, Computer and Motor Vehicle. On the same year, the College changed its name and became Don Bosco Technological Institute.

In 2001, DBTI became a co-educational institution with the admission of the first group of female students.
DBTI welcomes into its community all persons regardless of race, creed, colour or gender, who want to share its vision and respect its purpose and practices.

Through participation in the Catholic Higher Education Board, the DBTI Administration entered into formal discussion with Divine Word University on matters of affiliation on 24 February 1998. On 13 April 2000, a formal letter was sent to the DWU Vice President for Academic requesting affiliation of the programmes at of Don Bosco Technological Institute. The official signing of the Affiliation Memorandum of Agreement between DWU and DBTI took place on 1 August 2003 and was renewed in December 2006.

The year 2008 marks a valuable recognition by the Government of Papua New Guinea through the Commission for Higher Education in awarding TESAS scholarships to first year students in 2009. TESAS quota given to DBTI and students’ eligibility will determine the allocation of scholarships and these conditions are governed by the Office of Higher Education Students' Scholarships.