ISRSF and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Forge New Pathways for Indonesian Scholars

Left to right: Ana Saleh (ISRSF), Vice Minister

Professor Stella Christie, Irfan Hutagalung (ISRSF)

Jakarta, February 13, 2025--

The Indonesian Scholarship and Research Support Foundation (ISRSF), in partnership with Northwestern University and the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology on February 6, 2025. The delegation, led by ISRSF Chairman Irfan Hutagalung, was warmly received by Vice Minister Prof. Stella Christie, Ph.D., and her team.

During the meeting, Vice Minister Prof. Stella Christie, an alumna of Northwestern University, spoke about the government`s initiatives to improve educational access for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. She emphasized the importance of education as a transformative force for Indonesia`s future, and highlighted President Prabowo`s large-scale education initiatives, particularly the government`s scholarship programs aimed at expanding opportunities for students from low-income families in rural areas.

A key focus was SMA Unggul Garuda, a flagship initiative designed to cultivate academic excellence and inclusivity.

"Through President Prabowo`s eight key initiatives, we aim to create a more inclusive educational landscape. Programs like SMA Unggul Garuda will help us nurture Indonesia`s next generation of leaders by providing equal opportunities for academic excellence," Prof Christie explained.

ISRSF Chairman Irfan Hutagalung praised the Ministry`s bold vision and commitment to fostering equal access to quality education. "We commend the Ministry`s dedication to fostering a globally competitive generation that will drive Indonesia`s growth and innovation," said Irfan Hutagalung.

ISRSF and its partners led by Chairman Mr. Irfan Hutagalung in a dialogue with Vice Minister Prof. Stella Christie and her team of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia

Advancing Research and Academic Excellence

The visit also served as an opportunity to introduce ISRSF and the Institutes for Advanced Research (IFAR) Consortium, which was established in December 2021 to address challenges faced by Indonesian researchers, such as heavy teaching loads, financial constraints and limited research opportunities. The IFAR Consortium, which includes IFAR Atma Jaya Catholic University, IFAR Monash University Indonesia, IFAR UIII, and IFAR LPEM-UI, fosters an ecosystem conducive to high-quality research and international academic collaboration.

Since its founding in 2012, ISRSF has been committed to developing Indonesia`s next generation of scholars through the Arryman Scholarship initiative. This initiative has supported doctoral candidates at Northwestern University (Phase I) and SOAS University of London (Phase II), with the goal of producing at least 40 globally recognized Ph.D. scholars who will contribute to Indonesia`s academic and research community.

During the meeting, Prof. Deborah Cohen from the Buffett Institute and Prof. Laura Hein from Northwestern University also shared updates on global research collaboration efforts, particularly through Northwestern Equality Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS) program under Prof. Jeffrey Winters.

Strengthening Future Collaboration

The ISRSF delegation expressed appreciation for Vice Minister Prof. Stella Christie`s support in promoting future scholarship opportunities for Indonesian students. The Ministry`s willingness to collaborate on research and scholarship initiatives signals a shared vision for strengthening Indonesia`s academic landscape on the global stage.

"We look forward to continuing our collaboration and expanding opportunities for Indonesian scholars to engage in world-class research and academic exchange," said Hutagalung, ISRSF Chairman.

Left to right: Professor Lauran Hein - Director of Arryman Program, Northwestern University; Professor Deborah Cohen - Buffett Institute, Northwestern University; Vice Minister Professor Stella Christie, Ph. D; Irfan Hutagalung, Chairman of ISRSF and IFAR Consortium

The meeting marked a significant step toward deepening partnerships between Indonesian and international academic institutions, ensuring that Indonesian scholars have the necessary resources and support to thrive in an increasingly competitive global research environment.

For more information about ISRSF and its initiatives, visit www.isrsf.org.