In January – February 2019, ACICIS Study Indonesia was very pleased to welcome 27 students on its Development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP) in Yogyakarta and Jakarta. Students from The University of Melbourne, Murdoch University, Griffith University, RMIT University, The University of New South Wales, Curtin University, The University of Adelaide, Flinders University, Western Sydney University, Australian National University, University of Technology Sydney, Monash University and University of Wollongong participated, with 17 receiving a $3,000 New Colombo Plan mobility grant to assist them on the program.
Hosted by Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, participants undertook an academic program during the first two weeks of the program, which included language classes, tutorials, field trips and a series of development-related seminars.
Language classes were led by experienced teachers at Sanata Dharma’s Language Centre and helped prepare students for their subsequent four-week professional placements. Meanwhile, the seminars featured a range of speakers, from academics to development practitioners. They provided students with an overview of, and insights into, gender, the environment, human rights, education and migration in Indonesia’s development sector.
On the first of two field trips, students had the opportunity to visit several kampong (neighbourhoods) on the riverbanks of the Code River. During the visit, DSPP students observed conservation and river management efforts in the area and participated in a discussion with Pemerti Kali Code (individuals involved in urban planning, tourism and development along the Code River).
The second field trip saw DSPP students visit Dongkelsari Village – a permanent shelter built in the aftermath of the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi, a volcano north of Yogyakarta. During the trip, DSPP students were involved in a discussion of disaster risk reduction & preparedness with the local community.
Students then began four-week professional placements at various development organisations based in Jakarta and Yogyakarta. These organisations included Plan International, Mercy Corps, Coffey – Australia Awards, HIVOS, MAMPU, Migrant CARE, Yayasan Rumah Energi, Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS), Conservation Strategy Fund Indonesia, Cardno – Kiat, Filantropi Indonesia, The SMERU Research Institute, Transformasi untuk Keadilan Indonesia (TuK), Indonesia Mengajar, Yayasan Usaha Mulia (YUM), Dian Interfidei, Institute for Research and Empowerment (IRE), Project Child Indonesia, Satunama and Mitra Wacana.
ACICIS would like to congratulate all the students for undertaking a challenging opportunity to gain professional experience in Indonesia’s vibrant development sector, and in the process successfully completing ACICIS’ 2019 Development Studies Professional Practicum.
