ACICIS Semester 43 (Aug 2016) International Relations Program (IRP) and West Java Field Study (WJFS) students in Bandung recently completed their final presentations at Universitas Katolik Parahyangan (UNPAR). The students presented on their IRP placements & WJFS mini-thesis to UNPAR supervisors, and their workplace mentors.
Ashley Stewart, WJFS & University of Tasmania student, presented his mini-thesis titled ‘The Current State of English Language Education in Bandung, Challenges, and Solutions.’ Supervised by Sukawarsini Djelantik, PhD. and assessed by Sylvia Yazid, PhD. and Irawan Hartono, PhD., he did an excellent job in conducting his research that required him to meet with teachers and students at many levels of Indonesian schools, and non-formal education organisations.
Nine students on the IRP this semester completed a professional placement as part of their studies at UNPAR at host organisations throughout Bandung. Students spend approximately 200 hours on their placement in between their classes at UNPAR, completing a range of work, and for their final assignment, the students must give a presentation about their experiences.
Phoebe Siers, Australian National University student, completed her placement at Intercultural Education Partner (IEP), an education-based institution in Bandung. Phoebe was able to assist IEP in training teachers for English and Indonesian classes, help to build their website, was involved in promotional events and had the opportunity to visit the IEP office in Bau-Bau, Southeast Sulawesi.
Sally Swinnen, Charles Darwin University student, and Sarah Yoga, Western Sydney University student, undertook their professional placement at Bandung Institute of Governance Studies. They had the chance to assist the institution in their on-going main project named Data Revolution, which gave them the opportunity to be involved in field visits to Bojonegoro, East Java and met the Regent of Bojonegoro, as well as many other important key-person.
Antony Haddad, Flinders University Student, was placed at Yayasan Sahabat Lingkungan Hidup (EcoCamp). Antony not only learnt about sustainable environment, he also participated in environment education programs by assisting the facilitators in training.
Five students were placed at Resilience Development Initiative (RDI), a research-based institution. Anna Himmelreich, Australian National University students, Adam Reeves, RMIT University student, and Elise Currie, Murdoch University student, contributed in assisting RDI staff with research about social protection programs in Indonesia after a disaster and how it can affect the well-being of rural people in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. Sabina Kellie, The University of Adelaide student, participated in a research about hydrometeorological disasters and food security in Indonesia. Michael Coffey, Murdoch University student, was involved in research about post-disaster recovery, and its correlation to the well-being of internally displaced persons.
All final presentation were met with compliments from UNPAR and the student’s workplace mentors.
This semester has been an amazing journey marked with the help of many stakeholders. ACICIS held a semester wrap-up event that was attended by ACICIS students, staff, and representatives of partner institutions in Bandung. At the event, students had the chance to share their experience while living in Bandung, showed their gratitude and bid their farewells
Congratulations to all ACICIS Bandung students of this semester, and we wish you best of luck in your future endeavours!
