UNS – The Chairman of The Council of Rector of Indonesian State University (CRISU), Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho encourages State Universities in Indonesia to establish a collaboration with Universities in Australia. This was delivered by Prof. Jamal in his presentation during a Discussion on ‘Strengthening Indonesia-Australia Higher Education Collaboration’ through the Zoom Cloud Meeting application, Tuesday (30/6/2020).
“CRISU hopes to strengthen the State University Consortium with the existing Australian Universities, especially in the funding sector. Increasing people to people activities between Indonesia State University and Australia Universities facilitated by the KBRI (Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia), while appealing to the CRISU members to continue to establish an education and research cooperation with Australia Universities, either using university to university scheme or consortium,” explains Prof. Jamal in front of the discussion participants, which consists of leaders of state and private universities in Indonesia and the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Prof. Jamal, who currently also serves as the Rector of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Surakarta, adds that the G2G bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia has been established since the beginning of Indonesian independence day, and it has lasted more than 70 years. In 2005, both countries strengthen their collaboration through the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership Between Australia and the Republic of Indonesia, thus improving the people-to-people links in Indonesia and Australia since 2011. The number of Australian visiting Indonesia, vice versa, is increasing either for tourism, education, and working purposes.
Based on CRISU data, Australia remains the main choice of Indonesian students. This is because Australian universities have an internationally recognized qualification. Other than that, the Australian government prepares more than 300 postgraduate scholarships for Indonesian students. Meanwhile, LPDP has established that there are enough universities in Australia to meet the qualifications for Indonesian students to continue their studies using the LPDP Scholarship.
“In August 2016, there were 17,712 Indonesian students who pursue their studies in Australia. In 2020, the number of Indonesian students in Australia is nearing 20,000,” Prof. Jamal added.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director-General of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) RI, Prof. Nizam mentioned that until now, there are 1,034 MoUs between Indonesian university with an Australian university. “Not only our students can study in Australia, but we also hope that Australian students can study here,” said Prof. Nizam.
University collaboration is not only limited to the exchange of students and lecturers but can also be implemented through research collaboration. “Monash University, the biggest university in Australia has opened a campus branch in Indonesia. Hopefully, Indonesian university can also open a branch in Australia,” he added.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for Australia and Vanuatu, H.E.Y Kristiarto S. Legowo, highly appreciates the discussion that was initiated by the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Kemendikbud RI, Indonesian Academics and Researchers Network Australia (IARNA), International Indonesian Scientists Association, and CRISU. Also present during the discussion Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor International University of Melbourne, Prof. Vedi Renandi Hadiz, Head Coordinator IARNA, Prof. M. Akbar Rhamdhani, South Australia IARNA Coordinator, Dr. Beben Benyamin, IARNA Coordinator University of Canberra, Dr. Sitti Maesuri Patahuddin, and IARNA Coordinator Macquarie University, Sydney, Dr. Salut Muhidin. Humas UNS/Dwi
