AusAID awards
AusAID awards
On Aug. 15, The Jakarta Post published a letter regarding the
selection process for scholarships provided to Indonesia by the
Australian government through the Australian Agency for
International Development (AusAID).
I am very pleased that this year AusAID is providing 360
scholarships for Indonesians to undertake post-graduate study in
Australia. These scholarships will help address Indonesia's human
resource development needs in key sectors such as civil
governance, health, rural development and the environment. In
response to the economic crisis, 60 extra awards are being
provided this year to students in economic governance disciplines
such as finance, economics, business and law.
It is important to note that the selection process is
extremely competitive. For example, last year we received almost
3,000 applications. Many students who met the 2.7 grade point
average (GPA) and 4.5 English language requirements were still
not shortlisted for interview. In conjunction with our Indonesian
government counterparts, we decided to increase the minimum GPA
from 2.7 to 2.9, and the English requirement from 4.5 to 5.0.
We are pleased that despite tightening the eligibility
requirements, the demand for scholarships has reached record
levels this year. AusAID and IDP Education Australia, which
administers the scholarship program on behalf of AusAID, have
received over 10,000 inquiries for application forms, with a week
still remaining before applications close on Aug. 28.
I can assure applicants for AusAID scholarships that the
selection process to determine awardees is highly professional,
transparent, thorough and objective. The selection team comprises
eminent Indonesian and Australian academics and local government
representatives. The team has vast experience in the Indonesian
university system and is conscious of the subjectivity and
variability that can occur with GPAs across universities in both
the public and private sector. This factor is taken into account
in the selection of awardees.
TITON MITRA
Acting Counselor
Development Cooperation
AusAID
Jakarta