Korean agency offers $700,000 for green school project

The Jakarta Post, Elly Burhaini Faizal,  Jakarta, Fri, 05/18/2012

Marking its first ever joint cooperation with the Education and Culture Ministry and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is launching a Green School Action Project to help accelerate the development of environmental education in schools in Indonesia.

KOICA Indonesia Office representative, Sungho Choi, said Friday that the Green School Action Project was a collaborative and supportive scheme for the Indonesian government delivered by the KOICA and UNESCO Jakarta office on behalf of the Korean government.

This program is aimed at helping to build the capacity of Indonesian teachers to raise awareness on sustainable development in schools.

“Combating climate change is now the global concern in which joint efforts are essential. No country or region is free from this global issue. It’s highly appropriate for us to invest in education for sustainable development as climate change is not only about changing the environment but it can also lead to poverty,” said Sungho Choi on the sidelines of a three-day regional workshop for “Green Action in East Asia: Centered on Teacher Capacity Building for Climate Change Education”, which began on Friday.

For the project, he said, the KOICA had contributed US$700,000 for building capacity among teachers from 20 pilot schools in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, through education on climate change and sustainable development.

About 160 participants from seven countries, comprising Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, are attending the workshop. Teachers from the 20 pilot schools for the Green School Action Project in Banjarmasin are also taking part in the event.

“Supporting environmental management and sustainable development is one of the core sectors in bilateral cooperation conducted by the KOICA. I sincerely hope that we can continue to closely work on sustainable cooperation and environmental education to address the impacts of climate change,” said Sungho Choi.

Under the Adiwiyata program, which was launched in 2006, the Environment Ministry, in cooperation with the Education and Culture Ministry, has created green school communities that are able to manage and protect the environment partly to support sustainable development programs that the government is currently working on.

“We know that the Indonesian government already has a good program on green schools called Adiwiyata. We hope that the Green School Action Project can add increased values to that work,” said UNESCO Jakarta’s head of education division, Anwar al-Said.

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Diponegoro University to build Geothermal Study Center

Antara News, Mon, May 14 2012

 "One day, the use of fossil energy will end."

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Diponegoro University of Semarang, central Java, is building a Geothermal Research Center to be run by the Faculty of Science and Mathematics to examine potential geothermal resources in Indonesia.

"The Geophysics and Geothermal Research Centre building begins today and is targeted to be completed in November 2012," said Dean of the university`s Faculty of Science and Mathematics M. Nur here on Monday.

Nur added that fossil energy cannot remain plentiful forever and will someday be depleted due to excessive consumption. So, renewable energy such as geothermal would be a needed breakthrough.

"We see the geothermal energy potential in Central Java is located in the Mount Dieng area, Wonosobo and Ungaran, and Semarang regency. The Geothermal Research Center is expected to assist in the use of alternative energy," he said.

Nur noted that the Geophysics and Geothermal Research Centre building will be built in an area of 2.105 square meters and supported by the state`s Oil and Gas Company, PT Pertamina.

"One day, the use of fossil energy will end. Oil-fueled cars will be finished. Therefore, we need a long-term breakthrough for new renewable energy use," he said.

According to the university`s Rector, Sudharto, Indonesia's use of fossil energy is still as high as 95 percent, using petroleum, natural gas, and coal, and the remaining five percent is made up of new renewable energy alternatives.

Though national renewable energy consumption is only five percent, it is targeted to be increased to 17 percent by 2025.

Pertamina General Manager Retail Fuel Marketing Region IV Rifky Hardijanto Effendi added that, with the funding for construction of this facility, this is the third time Pertamina has contributed to construction at the university.

"We distributed Rp7.2 billion to build the Geophysics and Geothermal facility, and earlier we also helped construct the building at the university's Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Engineering," he said.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Lawmakers Now Interested in Student-Made Car

Jakarta Globe, Anita Rachman & Antara, January 04, 2012

The Solo mayor’s Kiat Esemka brand sport utility vehicle, which is priced
 at Rp 95 million ($10,500), was built by students at SMK (vocational school)
2 Solo and assembled using almost all locally produced components. (JG Photo)

         

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Some lawmakers, who last year were criticized for ostentatious lifestyles and flashy cars, have expressed interest in following the Solo mayor’s example and driving a locally made car.

Solo Mayor Joko Widodo, or Jokowi as he is better known, is now using a car assembled by SMK 2 Solo students along with Kiat Motor, while his deputy, F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo, is using a car assembled by the students of SMK Warga Solo, also in cooperation with Kiat Motor.  

The 1.5-liter engine Sport Utility Vehicles cost about Rp 95 million (Rp 10,500) each. 

On Wednesday, House Speaker Marzuki Alie said that he wanted to see and try out the car branded “Kiat Esemka” — a reference to how SMK (vocational high school) is pronounced, and Kiat Motor, one of the biggest car repair shops and dealerships in Solo.  

“I will visit it,” Marzuki said. “We should support its production so we could have an Indonesian built car.” 

Asked whether he would buy the car, Marzuki said: “If I have enough money, I’ll buy it.” 

A number of lawmakers are reportedly planning to order the car.  

A lawmaker from the United Development Party, Arwani Thomafi, said he really wanted one.  

“I’m not only interested, but desperate to see and try the car made by our people,” Arwani said. “Who else should buy it but us?”

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No cuts in scholarship allocations for Indonesians: Netherlands

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 11/01/2011

The Netherlands has no plans to cut the portion of scholarships it has been allocating for Indonesians despite the debt crisis currently plaguing the Eurozone, a Dutch official said here on Tuesday.

“Don't worry about budgets. We're still offering wide opportunities for Indonesians who want to study in the Netherlands,” Nuffic NESO Indonesia director Mervin Bekker told a press gathering in Jakarta.

Nuffic Neso Indonesia is the official representative of Nuffic -the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education- in Indonesia; for all matters concerning Dutch higher education.

Bekker said the Dutch government was even planning to further expand its partnership with Indonesian education institutions.

He said the Netherlands considered Indonesia important in its international education cooperation policy, citing127 partnerships that had been established between Dutch and Indonesian higher education institutions, 22 percent of which covered student exchanges and 19 percent were in the form of research partnerships, Antara news agency reported.

Indonesian students have widest opportunities in New Zealand universities

Antara News, Fri, June 17 2011

Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Indonesian students have wider opportunities to study at various universities in New Zealand, an Indonesian official said here on Thursday.

Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand Antonius Agus Triyono said many leading universities there offer wide opportunities for Indonesian students to study so long as they meet the admission requirements.

"There is no limit so long as they meet the admission requirements," Antonius said, adding that the universities in New Zealand are interested in more foreign students, especially from Indonesia.

According to him, there are more Malaysian and Vietnamese students there than those from Indonesia, and therefore he encouraged Indonesian students to study in the neighboring country.

"My job is to encourage as many Indonesian students as possible to study at New Zealand`s universities because the situation and the quality of education there is very good," Antonius said after a meeting with South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

The Indonesian ambassador to New Zealand met with the South Sulawesi governor to convey the offer of cooperation in education from Massey University.

Antonius said the university was offering three schemes of cooperation in diploma three program for nursing education with the students from South Sulawesi.

The cooperation was then signed by the South Sulawesi governor with first scheme is for the students who have finished the second year of nursing school in Makassar can continue the third year at Massey University in New Zealand and then to have an opportunity to work there for one to two years.

"The second scheme covers nursing students exchange program and the third is "sandwich program" or postgraduate program," said the Indonesian ambassador to New Zealand.

Editor: Bambang

Govt aims to produce 4,000 qualified sailors a year

Arghea Desafti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 05/25/2011

The Transportation Ministry has announced plans to produce 4,000 sailors annually to meet increasing demand.

“We are currently producing 1,500 [graduates] a year from our state-owned sailing academies [STIP]. Hopefully we can increase the number of graduates to 4,000 next year,” Transportation Ministry Education and Training chief Bobby Mamahit said Wednesday at a discussion on improving the quality of human resources in the transportation sector.

Ministry data reveals that Indonesia will require at least 43,800 new sailors over the next five years.

The ministry is currently operating sailing schools in Jakarta, Tangerang, Semarang, Makassar, Surabaya, Barombong and Serang.

“One of the challenges we face is that we are still seeing graduates preferring to work for companies overseas rather than here in [Indonesia]," Bobby said.

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US ambassador meets with Indonesian diplomats selected for scholarship program

Antara News, Wed, May 25 2011 

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Ambassador Scot Marciel recently hosted a group of young Indonesian diplomats selected to participate in the Fulbright-KEMLU Scholarship Program at his residence prior to their departure for the United States.

Scot Marciel. (ANTARA)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Center for Education and Training in cooperation with the American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) offers the Fulbright-KEMLU Scholarships to junior diplomats to earn a Master`s degree in the U.S. in any field of study at the discretion of KEMLU, the US Embassy here said in its official website on Wednesday.

This coming year, six young diplomats have been selected to study under the program at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Georgetown University, Clark University, the University of Chicago and Denver University.

The Fulbright-KEMLU Scholarship Program represents just one of many efforts under the Comprehensive Partnership designed to strengthen bilateral collaboration on a broad range of issues in order to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity, not only for the United States and Indonesia, but also regionally and globally.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

Minister, ambassador launch Coral Reef and Climate Change Guide

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 05/20/2011

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty on Friday launched the Indonesian version of the University of Queensland’s publication Coral Reefs and Climate Change: A Guide for Education and Awareness.

Fadel, working in collaboration with the University of Queensland, had arranged for the book to be translated into Indonesian.

“Australia is widely recognized for its world-class research in environmental sciences. We are pleased that through this book we will be able to contribute and work together in conserving the beautiful reefs of Indonesia,” Moriarty said in a release received by The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The book aims to increase awareness of coral reef science and preservation. It includes recent scientific research with informative images and covers topics including oceanography, coral reef biology and the implications of climate change.

It provides practical tools and recommendations to chart and measure the health of coral reefs and a program to encourage public involvement in reef conservation.

The original publication was launched in Australia in November 2009 and was produced and published by the Coral Watch Foundation at the University of Queensland.

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Indonesian students, scholars sent to US under Fulbright program

Antara News, Thu, May 19 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Ambassador Scot Marciel, Deputy Minister of Education Fasli Jalal and former Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dorojatun Kuntoro Jakti opened the Annual American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) Fulbright Pre-Departure Orientation here last Friday.

This year`s pre-departure orientation and networking event brought together the largest group of Fulbright programs in AMINEF`s 19 year history and Fulbright`s 59 year history in Indonesia, according to the US Embassy here in its official website on Thursday.

The conference which included 204 Indonesian Fulbright and other related programs candidates and 20 American grantees is designed to establish fundamental understanding of the vision and mission of the Fulbright program among the Indonesian candidates and American grantees.

It is also designed to prepare the Indonesian candidates for their upcoming academic programs in the United States.

While this year is historic in numbers, the U.S. Embassy is looking forward to celebrating AMIEF`s 20 year anniversary next year and the 60th anniversary of Fulbright in Indonesia.

Editor: Ella Syafputri

Indonesian tycoon donates $1m to U.C. Berkeley

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 04/27/2011

The owner of Mayapada group and one of Indonesia's most renowned tycoons, Tahir, has recently donated US$ 1 million to the University of California, Berkeley.

Receiving the donation was the university chancellor, Robert J Birgeneau.

Tahir said the donation was expected to be used to assist Indonesian students currently studying at Berkeley who were facing financial problems.

“With this fund, I hope I can do something to help our students to continue their studies at Berkeley,” Tahir said Wednesday.

He added that it was his duty as a member of the university’s board of trustees to make the donation.

“In fact, I am the only Asian on the board now,” he said.

When asked about how many Indonesian students might benefit from the funds, Tahir said he had no idea, adding that the technical details of its provision had been left to the university management.

Japan offers research scholarships to Indonesian students

Antara News, Mon, April 11 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Japanese government is offering Monbukagakusho scholarships to Indonesian students who wish to participate in research programs in 2012, according to a press release issued the Japanese embassy in Jakarta.

During their studies, students would be allowed to apply to degree programs, namely master, doctoral and professional graduate courses. They can also continue the doctoral degree program after finishing the master or professional graduate course. However, the latter offer is applicable only to students who can pass the examination held by the related university.

Among the requirements that must be met to apply for the scholarship program are ; the participants must born during or after April2, 1977, has the university grade of minimum 3.0 or Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students with minimum score of 260 in two subjects excluding the Japanese language.

The student must have a TOEFL score of minimum 550 or equivalent and surpass the Japanese Language Test at level 2.

The application form for the scholarship can be taken freely at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Japanese Consulate in Surabaya and Medan. The form can also be downloaded at the official website of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta http://www.id.emb-japan.go.jp.

All documents must be submitted directly or through mail not later than May 11, 2011.

Universities in Japan keeps holding study and research activities despite the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country last March 11.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

U.S. to accommodate 15,000 Indonesian students

English.news.cn   2011-04-04

JAKARTA, April 4 (Xinhua) - The government of the United States intends to accommodate 15,000 Indonesian students to study in the country through its ACCESS America Higher Education Forum held on Monday, Kompas.com online news reported Monday.

The program is a comprehensive cooperation in educational field that has been agreed by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the U.S. President Barack Obama in Nov. 2010.

"Last year, President Obama intended to multiply Indonesian students to the U.S. and now we want to support and to organize the plan," U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco J. Sanchez told the press.

He said that the forum themed "Advancing U.S. - Indonesia Higher Education Exchanges and Partnerships" will help students to register and to make them easier to get visa to the United States.

The U.S. Ambassador for Indonesia Scott Marciel said that the forum is a big opportunity for educational institutions in both countries to dig their potentials.

Based on data, there were 7,000 Indonesian students studied in the United States in 2009/2010.

Editor: Xiong Tong          

Universities in Riau sign MoU with Jordanian university

Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Tue, 03/15/2011

Three universities in Riau Province hammered out a cooperation agreement in language education with Al Isra’ University in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday.

The cooperation will include an exchange program of Indonesian language lecturers from three universities and Arabic language lecturers from the Jordanian counterpart.

Among the signatories of the MoU were Islamic University of Riau rector Detri Karya, Lancang Kuning University of Pekanbaru rector Sudi Fahmi, State Islamic Sultan Syarif Qasim University of Pekanbaru rector assistant Munzir Fahmi and Al Iqra’ University of Amman rector Nu’man Ahmad Al Khatib

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Two RI vehicles to participate in Shell Eco Marathon 2011

Antara News, Thu, March 3 2011

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Gadjah Mada University (UGM)`s Semar Team is to enter two energy-efficient vehicles in the Shell Eco Marathon 2011 to be held at Malaysia`s Sepang Circuit on July 6-9 2011.

"The two energy efficient vehicles are the Semar Prototype and the Semar Urban," said Jayan Sentanuhady, adviser of Gadjah Mada University`s Semar Team, here Thursday.

The Semar Team was aiming to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and riding distance, Jayan said.

The engines of the energy efficient vehicles were designed for heat efficiency and maximal volume under certain balanced conditions, Jayan said.

"They are long stroke engines with high torque characteristics on the low rev to lower fuel consumption," Jayan, who is also a lecturer of Machine and Industry Engineering of Engineering Faculty of UGM, said.

According to Jayan, the Semar Prototype could cover 280 kilometers on one liter of gasoline.

The Semar Prototype was 2.8 meters long, 0.65 meters high, one meter wide and had a 1.6-meter long wheel base.

The chassis wa made of fiberglass with 2 millimeter thickness, while the engine was a 25 cc four-stroke single cylinder able to take the vehicle to its maximum velocity of 45 km per hour.

Meanwhile, the Semar Urban, which was designed as an energy efficient city car , was now still in a finishing process.

The Semar Urban used a 125 cc four-stroke engine, had double spark plugs which were ignited sequentially using an Electronic Control Unit, and consumed number 95 octane gasoline, Jayan said.

The Semar Urban`s dimensions were 2.3 meter long, 1.3 meter high, and 1.3 meter wide.

To compete in the upcoming competition, the Semar Prototype`s engine, which was 25 cc, would be replaced with a 115 cc engine to gain more power on an uphill road, Jayan said.

The rear swing arm, rear seats and steering paddock would be made separately, Jayan said, adding that the wheel house would be made outside the chassis to maximize its steering wheel turning angle until 45 degree.

With such transformation, Jayan hoped Semar Team could compete and perform well and win the competition.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

US universities hold US education fair in Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya

Antara News, Tue, February 22 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel, here, Sunday (Feb. 20) spoke at the Spring 2011 EducationUSA Fair, held in partnership with 38 prominent U.S. educational institutions.

U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel (Antara)

The EducationUSA Fair, which was open to the public, included university representatives and presentations on "Study in the USA" and the student visa application process, a press statement of the US Embassy in Jakarta, said here, Tuesday.

The EducationUSA Fair started on Sunday, February 20 in Jakarta, followed by events in Medan on February 22, Semarang on February 24, and Surabaya on February 26 before concluding in Denpasar on February 28.

Attendees will be able to meet university representatives and follow activities through EducationUSA`s website and social media channels, including Facebook, Skype, and Twitter.

The EducationUSA Fair is an annual advising activity coordinated by AMINEF/EducationUSA that provides accurate and impartial information on studying in the United States by facilitating direct interaction between students and university representatives.

This Fair also enhanced students` exposure to the thousands of possibilities of majors, programs, scholarships and assistantship opportunities available at U.S. academic institutions.

The Fair is part of AMINEF`s EducationUSA initiative to contribute to the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Partnership agreement between the governments of the Republic of Indonesia and the United States of America to double the number of Indonesians studying in the U.S. in the next five years.

During the Fair, representatives of the U.S. Embassy Consular Office provided information on the visa application process.

The Consular section welcomes student visa applications and has made the application process as easy as possible. Student visa applicants are guaranteed an appointment on any Monday the Embassy is open.

The Education USA website at www.educationusa.or.id provides more details of the visit agenda along with additional information on universities, courses, and studying in the United States.

Editor: Priyambodo

Norway students to study in Bali

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Fri, 01/21/2011

A total of 403 students from Gateway College in Norway will be leaving for Bali to study in the coming semester, the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo says.

The students would study philosophy, cultural psychology, sports, tourism management, economics and Indonesian language, the embassy’s third secretary for social affairs and culture Febby Fahrani said in a statement made available to Antara on Friday.

The students will work with assistance from lecturers of Telemark University College, Sogn og Fjordane University College, Le Sud University College, Lillehammer University College and Udayana University in Bali.

Before leaving for Indonesia, Ambassador Esti Andayani hosted a farewell party that allowed the students to enjoy Indonesian food, Balinese gamelan and a documentary film about Indonesia with a particular focus on Bali.

They are among 670 students from Norway who will study in Bali during the first semester of the year beginning February. The others are from GOstudy (140 students), Active Education (96 students) and Kulturakademiet (31 students).

Last year saw 1,285 students from the four colleges participate in pre-university study exchanges in Bali, a 50 percent increase from the previous year.

Indosat, ITB join hands to develop mobile apps innovations

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/08/2011

Indonesia’s second largest cellular operator, PT Indosat, is teaming up with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in mobile applications development in an attempt to encourage innovations in technology among youths and to produce new experts in the industry.

Indosat director and chief wholesale and infrastructure officer Fadzri Sentosa signed in Bandung on Saturday a memorandum of understanding on the new partnership with ITB deputy rector Hasanuddin Z. Abidin.

“This partnership will serve as a positive and effective collaboration in the development of mobile applications for the campus community and the young generation in general,” Fadzri said as quoted by Antara.

He added that the partnership was also expected to produce new experts in mobile technology.

As part of the partnership, an Indosat Innovation Lab will be built in the West Java capital.

“It will serve as a place where they (young innovators to-be) can experiment and have intensive discussions,” Fadzri said.

Hasanuddin, meanwhile, said the new partnership was ITB’s third with Indosat.

TEDx Again Inspires Indonesia With Raft of Innovative Ideas

Jakarta Globe, Ulma Haryanto | December 19, 2010      

Jakarta. Participants of the sixth TEDx Jakarta conference were mesmerized on Sunday by inspiring presentations on a range of topics by a digital inventor, a designer and an educator, among others.

Anies Baswedan, rector of Paramadina University,
 gave an update of Indonesia Mengajar (Indonesia Teaches),
a program that sends young high achievers to isolated
 regions across the archipelago to teach for a year.
(Photo courtesy of DDB Indonesia)    

TEDx Jakarta is a local version of the Technology, Entertainment and Design conference based in California.

The event at Usmar Ismail Hall in Kuningan, South Jakarta, was the second such event for the year, TEDx Jakarta’s co-curator Lalitia Apsari told the Jakarta Globe.

She added that TEDx Jakarta events are held three to four times annually.

On Sunday, Chandra Tresnadi, winner of the 2010 Indonesian ICT award (Inaicta) for his interactive, multiplayer batik Internet game, showed his invention on a large touch-screen display.

“The idea was to create a game that would promote social interaction and participation as well as communication with strangers,” he said.

Chandra also said he wanted to present batik to the public in a very accessible way.

Adi Panuntun, whose video-mapping project at Fatahillah Museum in West Jakarta in March drew 50,000 visitors, was also invited to speak.

“At the time [of the Fatahillah project] I found a challenge in the quest for public space in Jakarta. And since my background is design, I saw [and presented] things differently,” he said.

Back in March, Adi made a documentary about Jakarta and projected it on the facade of the Fatahillah Museum.

“In the film, the museum was the actor. I used the building to tell a story,” he said, adding that he called the technique “video mapping.”

Rene Suhardono, career coach and author of “Your Job is Not Your Career,” urged attendants to reconsider their conceptualization of happiness and passion.

“I would like to challenge everyone here to do 21 different things every day and write or tweet about it,” he said.

Betti Alisjahbana, former chief executive of IBM, talked about ITB Untuk Semua (ITB for All), a scholarship that also offers soft skills courses.

Anies Baswedan, rector of Paramadina University gave an update of Indonesia Mengajar (Indonesia Teaches), a program that sends young high achievers to isolated regions across the archipelago to teach for a year.

“Those on the front-line of education — the teachers — are crucial. That’s why we send these young people, to lead and to inspire,” Anies said.

Also addressing the event was Irma Windi Lubis and a group of 10 children from Sanggar Roda, an organization in East Jakarta, that gives youngsters non-formal education and moral support with the help of music.

The event organizers said they had to work hard to find a diverse group of speakers on various topics, which is the prime characteristic of all TED events.

“There are a lot of inspirational speakers we would like to invite, but aside from big names we also want to introduce those who are less familiar,” Lalitia said.

Arief Aziz, Karina Sigar and Kartika Anindya were longtime fans of TED videos — available on YouTube — and after they found out that TED launched TEDx, they immediately contacted the California committee.

“The first three events [we organized] were held for 80 attendants, where we would watch TED videos together and invited several speakers. But we got requests to hold a bigger event,” Arief told the Globe. The current event is their sixth.

Anton, 27, works in advertising and Sunday marked his first visit to TEDx Jakarta.

“I’ve been subscribing to TED videos since college and was excited to know similar events are held here,” he said, adding that he hoped more speakers from other disciplines would attend.

“An astronomer for instance — topics that are outside of the mainstream,” he added.

Atten Dhaniel, 22, went to TEDx for the first time after his teacher talked about the videos. After attending the third event, he decided to offer his services as a volunteer.

Dhaniel believes TEDx events have great educational value.

“My favorite was the talk on nanotechnology,” he said.

Edison, a business analyst for an oil company in his late 20s, was upbeat about his first TEDx experience.

“The atmosphere is very energizing, young, and creative. I am excited to listen to all speakers,” he said.

Muhammadiyah University to cooperate with Chinese counterparts

Antara News, Monday, November 22, 2010 21:38 WIB

Ternate, N.Maluku (ANTARA News) - The visit of academicians from North Maluku`s Muhammadiyah university (UMMU) to China on November 7 - 19, 2010 has yielded encouraging results, UMMU Rector Kasman Hi Ahmad said here Monday.

On the memorandum of understanding between UMMU and Huazhong Normal University Wuhan which was signed by Prof.Dr.Ma Min as the president of Huazhong Normal University on November 12, 2010, he said it was an agreement to cooperate in certain respects.

It was agreed to exchange lecturers and students, training and lectures, collaborative research and joint academic meetings, information exchange, publication of research results in scientific journals and other academic interests, he said.

According to Kasman, the cooperation accord with Huazhong Normal University was also followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Hubei University`s Department of Medicine to cooperate in the health field, research, development and training for lecturers and students.

The protocol agreement of the cooperation with Huazhong Normal University will be followed up by Muhammadiyah`s development and research department to conduct dual degree program between China universities and Muhammadiyah`s high learning institutions.

The program will begin with a Mandarin language training for the UMMU students who will continue their studies in China, Kasman added.

Meanwhile, the training of teachers to build their capacity would be facilitated by Muhammadiyah`s development and research department and Chinese universities.

The program will be followed up by UMMU under the coordination of the National Education Ministry and North Maluku`s institute of education quality development (LPMP).

Kasman hoped the students of North Maluku who want to continue their studies in China would take advantage of the cooperation between UMMU and the China universities.

First lady to inaugurate `prosperous village" in Yogyakarta

Antara News, Wednesday, September 29, 2010 13:34 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono is scheduled to make a one-day working visit in Yogyakarta, to inaugurate a "prosperous village" program.

The "prosperous village" program is located near Sermo Dam, Hargotirto village, Kokap sub district, Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, and has been developed with the cooperation of Gadjah Mada University.

The First Lady is expected to present a car and five motorcycles to a representative of the university, and to symbolically plant a tree in the village.