Indonesian and US Educators Explore Partnerships

Jan. 2010

International

The EducationUSA Reconnect-Plus Delegation

Admission representatives from 11 diverse U.S. public and private higher education institutions traveled across nine cities in Indonesia in December to carry the message that a U.S. college education is more available, accessible and affordable than ever before. The EducationUSA Reconnect-Plus delegation met with local students, families, counselors and universities to promote study and research opportunities and offer workshops on the admission process and scholarship programs.

The visit was funded by the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with the College Board. Delegation participants included the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, University at Buffalo SUNY, The Ohio State University, Bethel University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Marquette University, Iowa State University, Everett Community College, University of Pittsburgh, Michigan State University and University of Missouri-Columbia.

The U.S. government's goal is to reawaken the U.S.– Indonesia relationship and support partnering activities between the two education systems. The most populous Muslim nation in the world, a country of 245 million, Indonesia sends most of its overseas-bound students to neighboring Australia and Singapore; however, the delegation found that most have a high regard for the U.S. and would prefer to obtain academic training at American institutions. With just over 7,500 students from Indonesia enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities in 2008-09, there is great potential for increased exchanges. Nearly 80 percent of student visa applicants are being approved, in record time. A new EducationUSA Indonesia website unveiled in November is designed to show the welcoming face, high quality and good value of American education, and to alert prospective applicants to new outreach opportunities and mobile advising services being offered by the Indonesian EducationUSA advisers working out of centers in Jakarta, Surabaya, Malang and Medan.

More than 50 universities and 24 leading secondary schools in nine cities interacted with the group, and hundreds of students, teachers and administrators took part in the workshops. These focused on such topics as the undergraduate and graduate admission processes, academic essay writing, U.S. university life and education, specialized graduate programs and choosing the right ESL program. Information about community colleges was of great interest to high school students as a means for easy entry and reduced cost.

Indonesian universities seek academic cooperation, student and faculty exchanges, and research collaboration with U.S. colleagues. Many are interested in hosting Americans for study abroad. While many Indonesian deans and rectors have U.S. graduate degrees, the junior lecturers and researchers have been almost totally cut off from U.S. academe for more than a decade, and have instead developed scholarly connections within Asia and Europe. The result is a palpable hunger for and curiosity about opportunities at U.S. institutions and research centers.

On the high school side, the government has set up a pilot project to create a cadre of "internationally standard" senior secondary schools that offer courses taught in English in the areas of math, economics and science, in addition to English. (A second phase features middle schools.) Some already offer General Certificates of Education (ordinary and advanced) or the International Baccalaureate and/or accelerated two-year programs for advanced students. Many schools have English language teaching assistants through the Fulbright Commission and seek sister-school relationships with high schools in the U.S. Several of the schools visited had AFS (American Field Service) exchange students and send their own through the U.S. Department of State – funded YES program for one-year placements.

The Peace Corps will reenter Indonesia this summer, with volunteers working as English teachers in high schools and teacher-training institutions. As in U.S. urban areas, the Catholic schools enroll students from all faiths who seek a high-quality education. Top schools draw students from all parts of Indonesia, even those in the smaller cities of East Java and Sulawesi.

U.S. educators and institutions that want to reach out to Indonesia are invited to attend or send materials to the February 2010 EducationUSA college fairs across the country. The organization continues its media outreach to promote U.S. higher education and visa accessibility. To match Indonesian universities with appropriate U.S. institutions, requests can be submitted to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (include a brief summary of interest areas). Likewise, high schools can be nominated to become a sisterschool to an international-standards program in Indonesia.

Three more Reconnect-Plus delegation trips are planned for 2010 to diverse countries that may not ordinarily be visited by recruitment tours. Details and application procedures will be announced shortly by the College Board. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a copy of the announcement.