News item | 20-07-2022 | 9:00 am
Minister Dijkgraaf (Education, Culture and Science) will pay a working visit to Indonesia from Wednesday 20 July to Saturday 23 July. He leads a knowledge mission with the aim of strengthening cooperation and exchange between the Netherlands and Indonesia in the field of education, research and science. Minister Dijkgraaf is accompanied by a delegation consisting of directors of Dutch knowledge institutions and umbrella organisations.
Indonesia is an important strategic partner for the Netherlands. The country is playing an increasingly important role regionally and internationally. This is illustrated by the current G20 presidency. Indonesia is also in the top five of the most promising emerging markets in the world and will be investing heavily in education and research exchanges in the coming years.
Education and science attaché
Indonesia is one of the focus countries within the International Knowledge and Talent Strategy (IKT) of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In order to maintain its position as a knowledge country, it is important for the Netherlands to attract and retain specific knowledge and talent, such as for shortage sectors such as technology and care.
In 2023, an education and science attaché will start at the embassy in Jakarta. This is to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and Indonesia in the field of education, research and science, especially the exchange of knowledge and talent.
Good connections
The importance of international knowledge and talent exchange between the Netherlands and Indonesia is central to the knowledge mission. The Netherlands has traditionally had good connections with a large number of Indonesian research and knowledge institutions. During his visit, Minister Dijkgraaf will meet his Indonesian counterpart Nadiem Makarim. Together with the latter, Minister Dijkgraaf will talk to students. He also talks to the head of BRIN. This governmental body is responsible for the national research, science, technology and innovation policy in Indonesia.
Minister Dijkgraaf will also visit Universitas Indonesia (UI), a top university with which many Dutch institutions collaborate. There he gives a keynote speech and speaks with departments that often collaborate with the Netherlands, such as in the field of medicine and Dutch studies. During the knowledge mission, there are also various meetings with Indonesian students.
Minister Dijkgraaf: “International cooperation in the field of research and education is more important than ever. Only together and by learning from each other can we tackle global challenges, such as pandemics and climate change. The Netherlands and Indonesia have been working together successfully for a long time in the field of education and research. But looking at the science and innovation agenda in Indonesia, there are many more possibilities to deepen this collaboration, for example in the exchange of students and talent development.”