Flinders University has officially opened an office in Jakarta to assist in servicing and strengthening the University’s extensive network of Indonesian collaborators and alumni.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Barber, and Deputy-Vice Chancellor (International and Communities) Professor Dean Forbes, attended the official opening, and Mr Greg Moriarty, Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, was among the invited guests.
Professor Barber said the initiative supports the University’s international strategy, building on relationships that extend back to the foundation of Flinders in 1966.
“Our long-standing engagement in Indonesia has been multi-disciplinary and multi-lateral, working in areas of development projects, research collaboration, masters and doctoral training in Adelaide, and student and staff exchanges as well as post-doctoral fellowships and supervised PhD placements,” Professor Barber said.
“Our research and teaching strengths, particularly in areas of education, public policy, health sciences, population studies, environmental management, gender studies and international relations have forged long term links and a strong alumni network in Indonesia.”
Representatives from Indonesian government agencies and several educational institutions attended the opening.
The University has more than 750 active Indonesian alumni, and there are currently 150 Indonesian students enrolled at Flinders, the majority undertaking postgraduate study.