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| Scottish Development International |
Organised by Scottish Development International (SDI), in partnership with Universities Scotland and the British Council Scotland, the five-day visit will be SDI’s first venture into the predominantly Muslim southeast Asian country, which is home to 250 million people and is seen as an emerging economic giant, with a proliferating middle class.
The Scots delegation will include representatives of 12 universities, led by Professor Nigel Seaton, principal and vice-chancellor of University of Abertay and chairman of the international committee at Universities Scotland. It will be hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Education.
Jason Grant, SDI’s Singapore-based regional manager for southeast Asia, told the Sunday Herald the agency has been developing university links in southeast Asia since 2009, and there are already 12 Scottish universities with successful partnerships in Malaysia and Singapore.
“Indonesia has over 2000 universities, but the government is undertaking a massive investment in rejuvenating the system and raising educational standards. Education is kind of new territory for us in the Indonesian market.”
The university chiefs are set to take part in an intensive programme of meetings across four cities across the 3000 mile-wide archipelago, interacting with 55 potential Indonesian partners in meetings designed “to give participants an in-depth introduction to the market”.
The mission will coincide with a programme of other UK activities in Indonesia next week, including the British Council’s science and innovation event in Jakarta, and the launch of the Great Campaign for Education hosted by HRH the Duke of York, as well as a reception for Indonesian alumni of Scottish universities.
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