ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The annual Open Doors Report issued by the Institute of International Education shows that the number of Indonesian students studying in the United States this year reached 8,467 people, an increase of 5.8 percent compared to last year.
This increase is in line with the increasing relations between Indonesia and the United States.
“One of the main priorities of the United States Mission in Indonesia is improving relations between people through education and exchange. I am pleased to see the improvement this year and I am optimistic that this upward trend will continue in the years to come,” said United States Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, through a press release from the United States Embassy in Jakarta, Wednesday (15/11/2023).
The report stated that the increase was largely due to a 22 percent increase in the number of Indonesian citizens participating in postgraduate programs in America, and a 16 percent increase in the number of Indonesian citizens participating in post-graduation job training through the OPT program.
The report also shows a drastic increase in the number of US citizens studying in Indonesia, from 10 to 142 people, reflecting the return of the number of US citizens to normal levels after the end of COVID restrictions that affected student mobility around the world.
This increase reflects increased cooperation between the Indonesian and United States governments in education programs, including the development of an educational memorandum of understanding signed by United States Minister of Foreign Affairs Antony Blinken and Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim in December 2021.
Educational exchanges are also included in the main pillars of the United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which was just announced at the meeting between President Biden and President Jokowi, Monday (13/11) in Washington, D.C.
To celebrate International Education Week, the United States Mission in Indonesia held various programs throughout the archipelago, ranging from educational outreach programs in schools and universities, to Higher Education Partnership workshops for university administrators in Denpasar.
On November 11, EducationUSA held the “Meet the Alumni” exhibition which featured booths from 20 Indonesian alumni associations from various universities in the United States such as the University of California, Berkeley, Indiana University, Stanford University, and many more.
As part of the outreach program, advisors from EducationUSA conducted outreach at the Mentari International School Grand Surya school exhibition. In addition, they also held a hybrid information session on
“Five Steps to Studying in the United States”, in collaboration with American Spaces in Yogyakarta and Pontianak. EducationUSA also provides free tutoring services to prospective international students and offers resources and tools to help navigate the five steps toward studying in the United States.
The five steps include researching schools, identifying financial aid opportunities, completing the application, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure.
More than 4,700 institutions of higher education are accredited in the United States, and EducationUSA advisors can help students focus their options, determine their priorities, and plan their college careers. (AT Network)
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