Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Dr Siswo Pramono, will stop in Armidale during a diplomatic tour and deliver a public lecture at UNE on 6 May.
The Ambassador’s visit is part of a tour labelled ‘Ambassador Goes to Campus’, with a diplomatic mission to help strengthen Indonesian studies and foster cooperation in research and education at Australian universities, with UNE the latest destination.
UNE has enjoyed a productive relationship with Indonesia over many years, including, notably, through the Australian Government funded IndoBeef project in 2018, aimed at enhancing the cattle population and beef production in Indonesia.
UNE is also one of the few universities still offering the Indonesian language program in Australia.
Lecturer in Indonesian Studies at UNE, Dr Indra Saefullah, says the visit will further enhance the partnership.
“In most cases, Indonesian Ambassadors only visit major metropolitan universities, but the inclusion of UNE this year signals a commitment to the collaboration with UNE, particularly in terms of education and research,” he said.
The public lecture by His Excellency Dr Pramono will explore the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, and its current challenges and paradoxes. For example, while recent polls show a significant decline in Indonesians' trust in Australia, many Indonesians still consider Australia a key destination for overseas study.
By offering Indonesian studies at UNE, we are fulfilling an important role in facilitating cross-cultural engagement, with social, political, and economic benefits for both countries, as well as individual rewards.
The lecture will explore the opportunities and challenges in maintaining cooperation between the two nations.
Lecturer in Indonesian Studies at UNE Dr Jane Ahlstrand says the attitude to studying Indonesian has changed significantly over the past few decades, but it’s a study area that can open many doors.
“Studying Indonesian used to be a no-brainer for many Australians in the past because of Indonesia’s proximity to Australia, alongside a strong political commitment to Asia. But now we really have to go the extra mile to convince people of the value of learning Indonesian,” Dr Ahlstrand said.
“Australians who speak Indonesian and gain the critical thinking skills to navigate cultural interactions, fill an important niche as cross-cultural ambassadors and are active in fields like government, law, trade, and sport.
“By offering Indonesian studies at UNE, we are fulfilling an important role in facilitating cross-cultural engagement, with social, political, and economic benefits for both countries, as well as individual rewards.
“We are looking forward to hosting and hearing from His Excellency Dr Pramono to strengthen our ties and highlight further collaborative opportunities.”
His Excellency Dr Pramono will explore the UNE campus and meet with staff and members of the UNE Executive Team before delivering the public lecture at 10:30-11:30am in the A1 lecture theatre, Arts Building, and online via Zoom.
