RI provides 133 scholarships

JAKARTA: The government has provided scholarships for 133 foreigners to study arts, culture and language in 14 state universities in this fiscal year.

The foreign students, who come from 40 countries, on Wednesday embarked their studies, which will not offer academic degrees. Their fields of study include Bahasa Indonesia, shadow puppetry (Wayang), and various local dances.

Under the Darmasiswa scholarship program, recipients receive a monthly stipend of Rp 600,000 (US$61.20).

Minister of Education Bambang Sudibyo said that the program was aimed at promoting Indonesia's image abroad and enhancing cultural relations.

"Foreigners often have negative impression on Indonesia, since they only know the country through CNN," he said. "This is an effective and efficient way to increase mutual understanding."

The program, which is open to citizens of all countries that have diplomatic relations with Indonesia, has granted 1,445 scholarships since its inception in 1974. -- JP