Indonesia joined over 85 countries around the globe to celebrate International Education Week (IEW) on November 15-18, 2011. IEW is designed to showcase the significant contribution that international education makes in preparing Indonesians for the global world and supports Indonesia’s efforts to engage effectively on the international stage.   This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of their efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad including Indonesia to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

In Indonesia, AMINEF EducationUSA organized a series of presentations / workshops on U.S. Higher Education, covering general and specific information involving students, parents, and U.S. Institutions, and offline and online media.

Jakarta

The first day, November 15, sixty five (65) participants were in the audience.  The event was officially opened by AMINEF Executive Director Michael E. McCoy and followed by a series of presentations made by Leo Harten (alumn of Green River Community College and University of Washington) on General Information about Study in the U.S.; Gregory Barattini of Foothill and De Anza College on Community College System;  Casey Nolen Jackson on Liberal Arts Programs;  Fulbright Specialist Alan Klein on iBT and GRE tests; and finally EducationUSA adviser Antje Harsono on Visa Matters.

Leo Harten, the first invited speaker, talked about U.S. higher education which is getting more and more accessible within a reasonable budget to all because, "..there has been growing cooperation between the two countries in the recent years.”  He encouraged the participants to make the best use of this opportunity and he underlined the fact that the U.S. does welcome foreign students to study on the many campuses available in the country.  The U.S. offers more alternatives and opportunities because the number of choices is far more that the other destination countries for Indonesian students.

The question that the students have whether there would be scholarships available for them to cover the whole or part of their education cost if they decide to study in the U.S.  was answered on the second day of the event which featured a series of presentation on Scholarships Opportunities.  The number of attendees doubled the second day to 124!

The presentation began when Nurise Wijaya, AMINEF Fulbright Program Officer, explained about the various Fulbright and other related scholarship programs offered by AMINEF.  The following speakers were also bombarded by questions on scholarships available and criteria of selection by the enthusiastic audience.  The speakers were Fenty Agriffantono of the Indonesian Institute of Education Foundation (IIEF), and Hanif M. Saleh of the U.S. Agency for International Development.   EducationUSA adviser Erica Sjarif described the U.S. Embassy YES program and scholarships from several U.S. institutions.  Casey Nolen Jackson, who spoke about Liberal Arts Programs the day before, also described the scholarships available for those who have a talent in sports.  The day was closed with a Skype conference with Aryo Hasnugung (former AMINEF EducationUSA volunteer who won a scholarship to complete his Master’s degree at Murray State University) about Funding Opportunities from U.S. Higher Education Institutions.

On the third day of the International Education Week, the session was about the career U.S. universities’ graduates would have on their return to Indonesia.  The session began with a long distance Skype conference with Michaela Angelique, an Indonesian student pursuing her study at the prestigious New York Film Academy, followed by  Timoty Tesar of Iowa State University about the prospect of taking a program in Engineering, Science, or Technology;  and Rebecca as well as Jason Showmaker of the University of Missouri about the programs offered by Schools of Medicine and Journalism.  The Skype conference was closed by a presentation on the field of Education by former AMINEF EducationUSA volunteer Aryo Hasnugung of Murray State University.

Alumni who have returned and have a bright career already in Indonesia were the next speakers.  They were Alamo D. Laiman, a graduate from NYU Law School, speaking about Law programs offered in the U.S.  Elsiyah Susanto who is a graduate from the University of Missouri talked about her career in the field she pursued in the U.S., i.e., Communications, while  Fulbright alumn Wishnoebroto, a graduate from the University of Alabama, described the programs in Social Studies.  The last speaker, Putut Widjanarko, a Fulbright program alumnus, spoke about careers for today and the future and he set an example of his own where he started off as a writer, and a few years after his return with a Ph.D. from the Ohio University.  He is now a film producer and director of the renowned Mizan Publishing House.  The films he produced won the Indonesian National Film Festival two years in a row. 

The last day of events for International Education Week that AMINEF EducationUSA Indonesia organized, drew the largest audience, numbering more than 200, reflecting the real needs of prospective students for refining their academic writing ability in order to compete well in the U.S. academic environment.  The workshop on How to Write a Good Statement of Purpose and American Academic Papers, and Note Taking was led by Casey Nolen Jackson.

Medan

EducationUSA Medan made a joint event with the Consulate of the United States in Medan. Together the idea of “Funcation Festival” (Fun Education Festival) came about to make it more fun. The events included EducationUSA Exhibition, Free Hollywood Movie, Slam Dunk Contest, Cheerleading Contest, Public Speaking Contest, Games and Fun, and Rap Concert. The day started with simultaneous events. In the outdoors, the slam dunk and cheerleading contests started. At the same time, in the indoors the public speaking competition also started for senior high school students. Games and Fun were available the whole day.

EducationUSA Adviser became one of the juries in the Public speaking competition along with the Vice Consul for the US Consulate. The topic of the speech is “If I have a chance to study in the US, ….” . It was a tough decision for the juries to make as all were very good. Later in the day, EducationUSA made a presentation on Educational Opportunities in the USA. The adviser was accompanied in the presentation by alumni of IELSP Program: Cory Mia Sihombing and Sari Ayu who shared their experience in the US.  The events were well attended by around 1,000 people.

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