Records say that the number of Indonesian students that learn Australian politics and government is increasing. The Indonesian Association of International Relations Science report mentioned as many as 63 study programmes were offering Australian politics and foreign policy studies.
This emerged in the Convention on Australian Studies 2015, hosted by International Relations study programme of UGM and UII at UGM Graduate School on Wednesday (20/5). Keynote speakers are Prof. John F. Murphy from Melbourne University, Dafri Agussalim, M.A. (UGM), and Michael Bachelard, Australian journalist.
Dafri saw the relations between Indonesia and Australia have faced ups and downs, but there are still some different perceptions between the Australian government and citizens on their ties with Indonesia.
“There are some different expectations between the Australian government and citizens in the way they see Indonesia,” said Dafri.
According to Dafri, one way to reduce tensions is through mutual understanding that can be done in education, business, culture, and tourism as well as other non-conventional forms of diplomacy.
“This can be done by involving many parties, such as students, NGO, business players, hence narrowing the deadlock in bilateral ties,” he said.
Similarly, Prof. Murphy saw the different perceptions between Indonesia and Australia, saying that some policies taken by the Australian government does not run parallel to those of the citizens.
UGM Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Alumni, Dr. Paripurna P. Sugarda, S.H., LLM., welcomed the event, adding that it is time for higher learning institutions to play a role in order to increase bilateral ties.