US Embassy Hopes Alumni Will Serve as Gateway for Collaboration in Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Indonesia, Peter M. Haymond, hopes that the initiative of Indonesian alumni who studied in Uncle Sam’s country will become a gateway for collaboration, innovation, and service to the community in Indonesia. “We hope that the relationships forged through the United States of America Alumni Initiative can serve as an opening door for collaboration, innovation, and service to communities across Indonesia,” Haymond said at the Alumni United States of America event in Jakarta on Saturday. He expressed pleasure in holding the Alumni event for the first time, bringing together alumni from all programmes who studied in the United States. According to him, this programme reflects the synergy between Indonesian talent and the excellence of American education, which benefits both countries. “The alumni represent the best of the people-to-people relations between the two countries by bringing their experiences to support their careers while contributing to the development of communities, the economy, and Indonesian society. We are very proud to be partners to Indonesia,” he said. He added that this alumni event is also part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. “Over that period, more than 80 years of close partnership with independent Indonesia have also been established, with thousands of alumni now serving as leaders in various sectors,” he stated. Haymond said that to strengthen these relations, his side provides various government programmes and collaborates with universities and institutions in Indonesia to help students who wish to continue their studies in the US through scholarships or other funding sources. “Our goal is to gradually increase the number of international students studying in the United States,” he said. The Alumni United States of America event was attended by more than 600 alumni of US universities and government- and military-funded exchange programmes. The event, which also featured various sessions discussing dynamic topics such as Professional Development, American Experiences, and the Creative Sector, was also attended by Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Stella Christie.