Directorate of Higher Education (DIKTI) in cooperation with Fulbright launched a new scholarship program for senior and junior teaching staff and students who want to continue study in several US universities. According to Executive Secretary of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Drs. Djoko Moerdiyanto, M.A., the self-improvement scholarship is offered through several program schemes. Those are the existing Fulbright-Aminef scholarship and the new Dikti-Fulbright Scholarship program. “The fund of DIKTI-Fulbright scholarship program is provided by DIKTI-AMINEF and it is administratively handled by AMINEF,†said Djoko at Multimedia Room, Monday (12/4), presenting the porgram together with AMINEF, CIES and IIE group.
To Deputy Deans of Administrative, Research and Community Service and other UGM teaching staff, Djoko explained that the scholarship gives opportunity for UGM academic community to conduct dissertation research, particularly for those who have taken S3 program and finished their course work. “For this scholarship, they are allowed up to three months or four months to do research in the US,†he said.
Besides, AMINEF also offered Fulbright Specialists for departments or faculties. Under this program, every department and Faculty can invite a professor in particular discipline to help academic activities. The professor’s participation in this program will be very helpful to designing the curriculum. The curriculum can then be tested and discussed together.
“The professor may come twice or three times. They may improve the curriculum as needed by faculties or departments. Departments in need of international accreditation may also invite specialist to review their documents whether they are in line with the standard set by the International Accreditation Board or not,†he said.
The scholarship program also gives opportunity for UGM undergraduate students in fifth semester to study in the US in the same department for one or two semesters. “All must certainly pass the selection test and the most important thing is the TOEFL test. At least they must get 550 or 575 of TOEFL score. Those who want to join can access AMINEF website. This must be interesting for undergraduate students,†he explained.
Djoko said that the DIKTI is helped out by the DIKTI-AMINEF program. The Directorate General will not have to distribute the fund and select lecturers who want to study in the US. All is arranged by AMINEF. As one of world’s remarkable agencies in administering scholarship, AMINEF is trusted by many universities in the US. “I have followed the development since the 1980’s. American experts who come to Indonesia are also managed by AMINEF and the programs have always been successful because they always maintain communication with departments. Now in Faculty of Medicine UGM there is a professor from Iowa in Family Medicine who is currently helping the faculty,†he said.
The amount of scholarship is adjusted with US cost of living. “Someone who is accepted in Iowa or Wisconsin will receive different amounts from those received by lecturers who study in Columbia, New York or Washington DC, or even LA. It means that the standard is adjusted with the living cost. It will not make us rich, but it is enough for study,†he said.
Head of Office of International Affairs UGM, Dr. Rahmat Sriwijaya added that we do not need reference anymore to study in the US thanks to AMINEF. “Years ago, one of the requirements was Letter of Acceptance from a US university,†Rahmat said.
Rahmat said that the DIKTI-Fulbright-AMINEF scholarship is conducted in all State Universities in Indonesia. It opens opportunity of competence for all state universities. However, DIKTI-AMINEF give dispensation for Papua region only. For this region, a special arrangement is made, including TOEFL Score. "There are some programs in Java that have already reached saturation point, so the opportunities are allocated for Papua,†he said.
Attending the event were Piet Hendardjo, Nelly Paliama, AMINEF Executive Director Michael Mc.Coy and Executive Director of Council for International Exchange of Scholar (CIES) who is also Vice President of Institute of International Education (IIE) Sabine O’Hara.