VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra received the visit of Education and Research Attaché of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Han Xiao Zhang to discuss the potential for increased cooperation in the education sector and to introduce a program of Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka which means Independent Learning-Independent Campus.

Deputy Ambassador of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Tuesday (16/11), Mohammad Syarif Alatas said that the relationship of Indonesia and Australia in the education sector has been well established. He hopes that the continuation of cooperation in the field of education will bring about more exchanges of knowledge and technology for the progress of both countries.

According to Syarif, currently, there are around 13.000 Indonesian students studying in Australia. However, 3.950 of them are still unable to enter the country due to the closure of Australia's borders amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He also expressed his hope that in the future, Australia could establish vocational schools in Indonesia to improve the quality of skilled workers in Indonesia.

On that occasion, Han Xiao Zhang expressed his interest in cooperation in the field of education with Indonesia. He stated that his country would continue to facilitate the education sector for Indonesian students.

At the meeting, the Indonesian Cultural and Educational Attache in Canberra, Mukhamad Najib also promotes the program of Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka to the delegation of Education and Research Attache at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

The universities in Australia selected by the Indonesian Government as the destination for the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards or the international mobility program for Indonesian students in 2022 are Australian National University and Melbourne University.