Timor Leste Research Program
Background
Timor Leste (East Timor) is the world’s newest country, and one of Australia’s closest neighbours. Between 1975 and 1999, the people of Timor Leste lived under military occupation by Indonesia. Following an historic ballot supervised by the UN, in which over 90% of the population voted for independence, there was a a bloody interregnum, as withdrawing Indonesian troops and local militia forces armed and trained by the Indonesian military laid waste the country. The arrival on an Australian-led peacekeeping force in late September 1999 opened the way for a two year period of transitional rule by the United Nations. In June 2002, Timor Leste became officially independent.Immediately after the Indonesian withdrawal, UNE’s Language Training Cente provided English language training to a number of Timorese who had been evacuated to Australia in the wake of the violence, and some stayed on to complete degrees here (link). This consolidated a longer relationship which UNE had with Timor Leste via members of the refugee community who had been living in Australia for some years (link). A number of UNE staff had also developed relationships with the East Timorese community here in Australia, forming the basis for an ongoping relationship with this new country, now that many of these people have returned.
In 2002, UNE negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with Timor Leste’s new national university, UNTL.
A Strategic Approach
In 2004, several researchers associated with CRAMS began working on projects designed to assist the process of reconstruction in Timor Leste. Under CRAMS auspice, these researchers have committed to developing a strategic program of aid and assistance to Timor Leste, by providing coordinated research, development and educational services within a collaborative action-research model, whereby Timorese government agencies and NGOs are being invited to play a leadership role in determining project priorities, and the aims, conduct and outputs of specific projects. Over time, it is hoped this process will build ongoing partnerships between UNE and Timor Leste’s own emerging educational and research institutions.
Other researchers in our Faculty, e.g. Dr Peter Ninnes of CREC, are also engaged in work in Timor Leste, and CRAMS is committed to coordinating our work with these other initiatives, so as to avoid unnecessary duplication and wastage of resources.
Over time, our plan is that the CRAMS research program in relation to Timor Leste will be coordinated with the continued enrolment in UNE courses by students from Timor Leste, in particular enrolments in research degrees. This will include, not just degrees within our own Faculty, but also ones offered by in other areas, including Agricultural Economics, Rural Sciences and Natural Resource Management. In particular, we will be acitvelyu seeking scholarships and other funding support to assist
Current activities
1. Rebecca’s ARC Linkage Project in Oecussi, with UQ, BCC
2. Bob Boughton’s inquiry into the adult education needs of the new country, including assistance with professional development of Non Formal Education Centre staff and development of national literacy campaign
3. HDR students working in Timor Leste, supervised by CRAMS staff:
a. Deborah Durnan (MPSH) Popular education and Peacebuilding in Timor Leste
b. Ursula De’Almeida (MPSH)
c. Melanie
4. Collaboration between Dr Bert Jenkins and Dr Bob Boughton from CRAMS with Dr. Ian Patrick, Institute for Rural Futures and a/Professor Euan Fleming, FEBL to develop workforce development program for Ministry of Agriculture Forests and Fisheries (MAFF), include an on-site Masters of Economic Studies program for MAFF staff