UK colleges offer help amid crisis

JAKARTA (JP): At least 33 British universities and colleges are offering help to Indonesian students intending to study overseas on how to beat the monetary crisis, a British Council executive said yesterday.

Geoff Evans, senior consultant for education and training, said a delegation of the 33 education institutions was scheduled to arrive in Indonesia next month to explain about study in England.

"The explanation is aimed to help new students avoid any problems caused by the current crisis," Evans said in a statement.

He said the help offered by the universities and colleges included ways to facilitate tuition payments, by paying in installments, and details of low-cost accommodation and scholarships.

The University of Nottingham, for example, will offer a package of aid worth US$1 million to help students from countries facing the monetary crisis, he said.

Heriot-Watt University decided not to increase its tuition fees for Indonesian students, while the University of Aberdeen will be offering discounts on its tuition fees, the statement continued.

"We strive to help the students and new students to finish their studies amid the crisis," Patrick O'Forrel of Heriot-Watt University said.

The statement said other universities which were also offering help to existing and new students included Warwick, Birmingham and Hertfordshire.

The delegation of the British education institutions is also to hold an education exhibition in Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung and Medan. (jun)