UQ and Indonesia

After more than 50 years of close collaboration, UQ is one of the most engaged international universities with Indonesia, and has close ties with the University of Indonesia and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. Through our research synergies – particularly food and water security, energy and resource management, and governance – UQ and Indonesia are creating a healthier, happier, and more sustainable future.

499
Indonesian students enrolled at UQ

52
Indonesia-UQ co-publications

16
academic staff born in Indonesia

14
research projects about Indonesia

1653
alumni in Indonesia

33
agreements with 21 official partners

Fast facts show full-year 2017 data.

The UQ Indonesia Office is strategically located in central Jakarta, adjacent to the Queensland Trade and Investment’s ASEAN Office. As a result, we can collaborate more directly with universities, government agencies, corporate networks, and non-governmental organisations, and support our alumni in the wider South-East Asian region.

Co-publications

We have partnered with Indonesia-based researchers on more than 220 co-publications in the past 5 years. The top research areas include ecology, environmental sciences, biodiversity conservation, public health, and agriculture. Our top co-publishers were the University of Indonesia and Gadjah Mada University.

Research collaborations

In the past 5 years, UQ has collaborated with 4 Indonesian institutions on 4 research projects, backed by A$739,495 (8 billion IDR) in funding and covering topics such as marine reserve design, enhancing tropical pulses, and urban waste management. Key collaborators include the Indonesian Legumes and Tuber Crops Research Institute and World Wildlife Fund, Indonesia.

Research funding

2 Indonesian organisations, People and Nature Consulting and World Wildlife Fund, Indonesia, have contributed A$86,634 (962 million IDR) towards 3 research projects in the past 5 years. Projects investigate marine reserve design and sustainable management of Borneo's landscapes.

Research about Indonesia

In the past 5 years, UQ researchers have been involved in 39 research projects focusing on Indonesia, backed by more than A$15 million in funding (166.6 billion IDR). Project funders include the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Australian Research Council, as well as international bodies such as the World Bank Group.

Future-proofing island communities

UQ and Indonesia's national research organisation, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), have partnered to improve the sustainability of Indonesia's urban and small island communities. Supported by close to half a million dollars of joint investment, the institutions are exploring ways to improve the resilience of Indonesia’s largest cities from human and built environment perspectives. The research is also addressing pressing sustainable development issues faced by small and remote islands – including Lombok and Ambon – such as coastal management and risk reduction. Annual research symposia and joint PhD training activities for UQ and LIPI scholars are being supported by the initiative.

Improving the livelihoods of rural cattle farmers

When it comes to increasing beef cattle production, forage tree legumes (FTLs) offer Indonesian farmers huge potential. While existing fattening systems are characterised by slow turn-off and poor carcass quality, UQ researchers have found FTLs are a viable feed alternative, particularly in the dry season. After working with smallholder farmers, UQ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Associate Professor Max Shelton (pictured second from right) found it is even possible to double smallholder cattle productivity by improving the nutritional value of FTLs. Professor Shelton and his team – which includes experts from the University of Mataram – have already helped farmers plant around 400,000 FTL trees and more than one million seedlings.

'World Class Professors' head to Indonesia

The Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education Republic of Indonesia announced a new prestigious program in 2017, ‘World Class Professor’, which seeks to invite leading international researchers to partner with Indonesian institutions. The project aims to foster greater collaboration, mentorship, and joint research publications. Two UQ professors have been chosen to travel to Indonesia as part of the initiative: School of Biological Sciences Professor Peter Mumby is partnering with Hasanuddin University in what is the only funded collaboration outside of Java, while Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation Professor Andre Drenth is partnering with Gadjah Mada University on tropical plant disease research.

Sharing Dengue Fever screening with neighbours

A joint-collaboration between the UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology (EIMB), in Jakarta, is focussed on dengue fever diagnostics. The UQ team, led by Professor Paul Young and Professor Matthew Cooper, developed a way to look for natural markers of dengue fever in the blood, to screen donations for potential infection. The test was then transferred to EIMB, where Dr Tedjo Sasmono leads the work to validate the test in the laboratory using dengue clinical samples. IMB Research Officer Mr Sanjaya Kc trained research staff at EIMB on how to use the new screening technique. The Australian Red Cross provided funds and in kind contribution into the ARC Linkage grant to UQ.

Conserving healthy marine ecosystems

The Capturing Coral Reef & Related Ecosystem Services (CCRES) project is unlocking the natural wealth of coastlines in the East Asia-Pacific region, with the aim of enhancing livelihoods, improving food security, and sustaining marine environments. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, and UQ, many elements of the project are being piloted in South Sulawesi, an area rich in biodiversity but under pressure from over-harvesting. The project seeks to showcase the value of ecosystem services to coastal communities, and to promote sustainable model approaches in local planning frameworks. Several UQ bodies are involved in the project, including the School of Biological Sciences and UQ Business School.

Building links with Indonesian officials

The Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ) designed and delivers customised English courses for officials employed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Imigrasi). Sponsored by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, the program commenced in 2003 with five Imigrasi participants. Since then, ICTE-UQ has delivered the program to more than 40 groups and more than 300 officials. The program comprises 10 weeks of integrated general English classes, two weeks of an ‘English for public service personnel’ program, an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, and one week of Home Affairs site visits and workshops.

Participants from the Australia Awards Women in Executive Leadership Development Program (Sri Lanka) Short Course

Female Sri Lankan leaders breaking the glass ceiling

UQ is supporting female Sri Lankan Government officials it combat under-representation in senior leadership positions through a customised Australia Awards Short Course delivered by UQ International Development. The Executive Leadership Development Program (Sri Lanka) Short Course is the third iteration of a specialised course in leadership offered to women from the South and West Asia region. The Short Course will build the capacity of emerging Sri Lankan female leaders to make informed choices about leadership styles and approaches. In doing so, it will provide participants with the skills needed to overcome the stereotypes that influence the interests and motivations of women to participate as leaders in the public service.

In the past 5 years, more than 1150 Indonesian students have been enrolled in UQ degrees, largely in PhD studies, Arts and Commerce programs. Not surprisingly, Indonesia's vibrant culture is alive and well on campus. The UQ Indonesian Student Association (UQISA) offers opportunities for students to socialise, learn about and promote Indonesian cultures, and build community. All students, Indonesian and non-Indonesian, are encouraged to join in the Association's active social calendar.

The Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law (BEL) offers the Indonesian Global Leaders Scholarship, which covers tuition at UQ (excluding the MBA) up to A$10,000, as well as a number of programs to help develop employability skills.

Video: Tamara Anisa, from Indonesia, shares her experience of studying a Master of Communication for Social Change at UQ with a young family

Our students can study Indonesian through the School of Languages and Cultures, which offers approximately 15 Indonesian language courses. Students study the country’s history, politics, cultures and society while developing spoken and written languages skills from a wide range of authentic, contemporary sources.

The Institute of Modern Languages (IML) at UQ also offers Indonesian courses for the wider community.

Video: What to expect while studying Indonesian at UQ, and where graduates can go.

Support for in-country learning

UQ is a founding member of the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS), a non-profit consortium of universities that develops and coordinates study options in Indonesia for Australian students. More than 35 UQ students have completed ACICIS programs in Indonesia since 1997 in the fields of business, Indonesian language, and development studies.

Scholarship program

Through its New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program, the Australian Government supported two UQ undergraduates to study in Indonesia in 2017. Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor Arts student Michael Lucas studied Indonesian language immersion at Gadjah Mada University and Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws student Alexander Williams studied international law, Indonesian civil and criminal law, and Islamic law at the University of Indonesia. Alexander undertook internships with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Indonesian Judicial Commission.

Mobility Program

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program supports undergraduates to undertake study, internships, and mentorships in Indo-Pacific countries, including in Indonesia. In the most recent NCP round, Bachelor of Journalism students spent two weeks in Jakarta reporting on the 2017 government elections. Along with basic language training, the students gained hands-on experience in the use of technical equipment, and editorial, ethical, legal, and intercultural communication issues.

UQ and the University of Indonesia

UQ has a long-standing partnership with the University of Indonesia (UI). In 2015, UQ and UI celebrated 15 years of a joint psychology program. In this time, more than 200 Indonesian students have completed their Bachelors degree at UQ, with many UI students staying on for postgraduate programs. In 2017, UQ's Faculty of Business, Economics and Law also celebrated a major milestone with UI: 10 years of student exchange, in which more than 200 dual degree students have entered into UQ bachelors of Business Management, Commerce, and Economics.

Anti-corruption field trip

In February 2017, the TC Beirne School of Law took 15 Bachelor of Laws students on a two-week trip to study Indonesia’s efforts at fighting corruption. Exploring issues of integrity and corporate governance, the students mixed academic study with field-based learning.

His Excellency Mr Paul Grigson

Former Australian Ambassador to Indonesia (Bachelor of Arts 1983)

Professor Endang Sukura

Research Professor in Microbiology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences; 2014 UQ International Alumnus of the Year (PhD 1989)

Dr Sidrotun Naim

Director of the Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture and Pathology Studies at Surya University; former Research Scientist at Harvard Medical School; 2012 winner of the UNESCO-L'Oreal Women in Science Award (Master of Marine Biology 2005)

Dr Alue Dohong

Deputy for Construction, Operation, and Maintenance, Peatland Restoration Agency. Lecturer at Universitas Palangka Raya. (PhD 2016)

UQ and Indonesia Engagement Snapshot

UQ and Indonesia share a strong and productive history of engagement stretching back more than 50 years. Our joint research efforts and people-to-people links enrich our countries.