A cohort of Indonesian students will spend the next four months receiving engineering-related training at the University of Nottingham as part of the inaugural Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) for Vocational Students programme.
They form part of the first group of 409 final-year students involved in a project, designed to narrow the gap between the industrial world and education in Indonesia. 39 students will be based in Nottingham where they will enjoy a bespoke, non-degree programme created by the university.
Designed to give them a taste of what it’s like to work in the engineering industry, the students will receive six hours of core activities per week made up of sector talks, industry visits, language classes and other cultural experiences. They will also be assigned a student mentor for the duration of their time in the city.
Pat Wheeler, Professor of Power Electronic Systems and Director of Global Engagement for the Faculty of Engineering, said: “We are really looking forward to working with students on the Indonesian IISMA scheme. I believe that Nottingham is an excellent place to learn about many aspects of engineering for future applications, including renewable energy and transportation electrification. I also hope that this scheme, particularly the mentorship aspects, will strengthen and build on our collaborative links with Indonesia.”
The University of Nottingham is a long-standing partner of the Indonesian government through the UK-Indonesia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Sciences (UKICIS), which forms part of the UK-Indonesia Partnership Roadmap 2022-2024 that was ratified by Prime Minister Liz Truss and Minister Retno Marsudi.
Dr Kiki Yuliati, Director General of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, said: “I am fully aware of the rapidly changing world, as well as the situation and challenges regarding three interconnected sectors: vocational education, industrial demands, and a need for skilled human resources. The gap between the industrial world and education has been so wide that it is high time to close or, at least, narrow it down. I believe that IISMA is a concrete effort to address the issue.
“I appreciate the University of Nottingham’s commitment to the programme, and I would like to call on the university to welcome our students and teach them in the best possible way as your students.”
Alongside Professor Pat Wheeler, the programme is being delivered by Dr Bagus Muljadi and Professor Ed Lester from the Faculty of Engineering, as well as Christine Koch from the Institute for Aerospace Technologies.
Robert Mokaya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, said: “This student mobility programme is a key part of our growing links and collaboration with Indonesia. At Nottingham, we already have one of the largest numbers of Indonesian students in the UK, and we are very pleased to welcome more students through this programme.
“Student exchanges are a bedrock of our Global Engagement Strategy as they engender longer term relationships. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our Indonesian partners, including the Indonesian Embassy in London and via visits planned later this year which will further grow our partnerships.”
