Visit to Bali State Polytechnic with U.S. Assistant Secretary Ann Stock
EducationUSA had a unprecedented opportunity to accompany US Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary Ann Stock in her courtesy call to Bali State Polytechnic and presentation in front of the students on July 22, 2011. This event was one of the Assistant Secretary’s agenda during 2nd Joint Commission Meeting (Education Working Group) attended by high ranking officials of the Indonesian and U.S. governments in Bali, July 22-24, 2011.
The courtesy call began with a meeting with the Assistant Director and continue on with a presentation in front of the Bali State Polytechnic students. One of the Community College for Faculty Administrator Program grantees, Ketut Edy Dhanusugita, who is scheduled to leave for the U.S. to pursue his professional development program at Kapi’olani Community College this August, who is a staff member of the Polytechnic was there to greet, escort, and moderate the event.
U.S. Embassy Counselor for Public Diplomacy Don Q. Washington formally introduced the Assistant Secretary to the students. In her remarks, she stated the goal of the two governments to double the number of Indonesians studying in the U.S. and, the other way around, the number of Americans coming to Indonesia. There are a number of scholarship programs available and she encouraged the students to look for the best one to apply to.
EducationUSA adviser Mutia Herlina made a presentation afterwards, and received interesting feedback from the audience. Questions & Answers session became very interactive since Deputy Assistant Secretary Alina Romanowski and Fulbright Branch Chief for East Asia Pacific Matt McMahon also participated in session. Students were mostly concerned about their lack of English proficiency.
Assistant Secretary Ann Stock urged the faculty members, administrators and students to talk to EducationUSA adviser in regards to their concerns.
The delegation accompanying in this courtesy call were, among others, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education Andre Lewis, Bureau of Cultural Affairs (ECA) Special Assistant Secretary, Chelsea Maughn, ECA Senior Policy Advisor, David Plack, AMINEF Executive Director, Michael E. McCoy, US Embassy Control Officer Jennifer Bookbinder, and US Embassy American Corner Coordinator, Okti Sinaga.
