Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and European Union, H.E. Yuri O. Thamrin, encouraged more Indonesian students to study in Belgium.
“Most of the Indonesians that are studying in Europe prefer Germany and the UK while in Belgium there are very few of them. This country is actually amazing while the cost of living there is relatively low,” said the Ambassador on Wednesday (18/10) in UGM Senate Hall.
In this event, Ambassador Yuri gave a public lecture themed the Dynamics of Partnership between Indonesia and European Union: Opportunity and Challenge. He explained the partnership between Indonesia and EU countries, including Belgium has offered opportunities for Indonesians, not only in the economy and trade but also education.
Yuri added science advancement made by Belgium has been recognised well so the Indonesian students need to start to set their eyes on this country’s universities as a place to further their studies.
“In one hundred years, Belgium had earned 10 Nobel prizes. This showed the quality of education in Belgium in various types of research,” he said.
The Ambasssador further described the relations between EU countries and Indonesia. Despite the crises in the recent years, according to the Ambassador, the EU continued to be a strong regional organisation as well as potential partner to Indonesia.
The character of regionalism of European countries, he said, had made organisations like the EU have strong power that is influential not just to European countries but also those that form partnership with them.
“Most of the decisions or outputs that are produced are able to bind its member countries and influence European countries, also Indonesia,” he said.
Therefore, he said, understanding on regionalism became important to Indonesians that want to reap benefits from European markets, including the students that want to be a diplomat.
“One of the reasons I came to Jogja was to increase that understanding. I hope there would be UGM students that want to have their career at the Foreign Affairs ministry and be reliable diplomat to be assigned to important posts in Europe,” said Ambassador Yuri.