UNS – Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, in collaboration with the Australian Consulate-General Surabaya, hosted the #AussieBanget University Roadshow on Monday (3/6/2024). The event, attended by students and the general public, took place in the UNS Tower Ballroom. The #AussieBanget University Roadshow featured the Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS) information session, a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) signing, and a panel discussion.

The AAS socialization session at UNS drew significant interest from attendees. Scholarships are always highly sought after, particularly by those aiming to further their studies. The AAS is a prominent scholarship program offered under the Australia Awards initiative, providing opportunities for citizens from participating countries in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa to study at Australian universities.

The Australia Awards Program in Indonesia continues a tradition of scholarship provision by the Australian Government that spans over 60 years. The goal of the Australia Awards in Indonesia is to enhance Indonesia’s development through the contributions of internationally qualified professionals and the establishment of strong and positive relations with Australia.

Since 1953, more than 9.000 Indonesian scholarship recipients have studied at Australian universities through both long-term and short-term programs, many of whom have gone on to hold leadership positions and make significant contributions to Indonesia’s development.

The Australia Awards in Indonesia offer two types of scholarships: postgraduate programs (Long Term Awards) and customized short-term intensive courses (Short Term Awards). Selected candidates receive scholarships through a competitive selection process. Successful graduates become part of the extensive and actively supported Australia Awards Global and Indonesian alumni networks.

Prof. Irwan Trinugroho, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., UNS Vice-Rector for Planning, Cooperation, Business, and Information, expressed his appreciation for the partnership between UNS and the Australian Government, represented by the Australian Consulate General in Surabaya. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our mutual commitment to promoting cultural exchange, education, and mutual understanding.

“As a start, today we will have the Australia Awards Session and a Panel Discussion involving both Indonesian and Australian representatives. I hope this event will benefit future partnerships,” Prof. Irwan said.

One of the sessions, the AAS Info Session, provided extensive information about the Australia Awards Scholarship to the UNS academic community. The session featured Emily Whelan, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy Jakarta, and Tutik Rahaju, Scholarship Targeting Manager at Australia Awards Indonesia. Both speakers provided insights into the scholarship program for the attendees.

Emily Whelan explained that the AAS is a prestigious international award offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders to obtain Master’s or Ph.D. degrees from Australian universities. The scholarship has been a vital component of the Australian Government’s aid program in Indonesia since 1953. Through study, research, and networking, scholarship recipients develop skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.

“The scholarship offers a range of benefits, including English language and academic support before studying in Australia. It also includes a series of professional development and networking activities that will enrich the scholars’ knowledge, experience, and networks before, during, and after their studies,” Emily Whelan explained.

Tutiek Rahaju added that the AAS aims to achieve gender equality among scholarship recipients and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds. The scholarship is available to all Indonesians who have the potential to contribute positively to their country’s sustainable development. The scholarship also supports Equity Target Groups, which aim to address access barriers and reflect the development priorities of both governments. These groups include people with disabilities, women from disadvantaged backgrounds, and individuals from targeted provinces.

“You can find information about the Australia Awards on the website https://www.australiaawardsindonesia.org/. Scholarship applicants will be assessed based on their professional qualities, soft skills, academic competence, and potential to address development challenges in Indonesia,” Tutiek stated.

In addition to the scholarship information, the #AussieBanget University Roadshow included a panel discussion in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI). This session featured more speakers, including Jennifer Parker, Expert Associate at the National Security College, Australian National University; I Made Andi Arsana, S.T., M.E., Ph.D. from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta; and Dr. Randhi Satria, S.IP., M.A. from UNS. The panel discussion was moderated by Septyanto Galan Prakoso, S.IP., M.Sc. from the International Relations (HI) Study Program at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNS.

Humas UNS

Reporter: R. P. Adji

Editor: Dwi Hastuti