Association Seeks Out Indonesian Researchers Overseas August 17, 2009
(http://thejakartaglobe.com/national/association-seeks-out-indonesian-researchers-overseas/324515) Of an estimated 40,000 Indonesians with research qualifications who live and work overseas, fewer than 1,000 have been traced in an exercise aimed ultimately at ensuring their home country also benefits from their expertise, a member of the new International Indonesian Researchers Association said on Monday. Arya Sandhiyudha, who was a former member of the Indonesian Students Association in Singapore, said it was not easy to get in touch with other researchers. In an Internet conference last week between the Ministry of National Education’s directorate general of higher education and overseas Indonesian researchers, an agreement was reached to move faster in organizing events both at home and abroad to increase association membership. The director general of higher education, Fasli Jalal, said that Indonesian researchers were an untapped resource spread across the globe, with 14,000 potential researchers in Australia, 11,000 in Malaysia, 7,000 in the United States, 1,500 in Japan and 1,700 in the Netherlands. He said there also were many more researchers in Taiwan who were trying to assist the association with attempts to contact Indonesian colleagues in several countries, particularly India. The association is expected to improve cooperation among researchers, university students, academics and the private sector both at home and abroad. Arya said efforts to enlist all overseas researchers began in 2007 with the establishment of a mailing list, but it soon became inactive. “It’s not easy because it’s about international communication,” Arya said. “We have less than 1,000 researchers now already on the list.” Despite the limitations, Arya said that members hoped for the best for the association. He said that the forum was now ready to launch a book, “Indonesian University Students’ Diplomatic Role Overseas,” and had already launched the world Indonesian Students Association’s radio to build better communications. Arya, who led the book project, said senior researchers from five continents would gather in Indonesia in October to show the public that they were ready to do their bit for the country. Fasli said the government was ready to give the researchers appropriate support. “We will take them to meet governors, mayors, etcetera,” he said. “Currently, only artists or athletes are given the chance to meet with [government leaders]. In the future, we also want researchers to meet such people for discussions. It’s a matter of appreciation.” (End)
