EU awards Erasmus scholarships for 78 Indonesians to study across Europe
EU awards Erasmus scholarships for 78 Indonesians to study across Europe
The European Union (EU) has awarded scholarships to 78 Indonesians to pursue studies in Europe under the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programme. This number places Indonesia among the top 12 countries with the most EMJM awardees worldwide. The EMJM programme is a unique opportunity for its awardees as they will undergo postgraduate studies in at least two higher education institutions in at least two EU Member States.
The EU Ambassador to Indonesia, Vincent Piket, said: “The EU is proud to welcome talented Indonesian students to Europe. I am sure that these bright Erasmus awardees will benefit from the outstanding education and research ecosystem we offer throughout Europe. Moreover, the Erasmus awardees are an important pillar of people-to-people cooperation between Europe and Indonesia. They will strengthen our bond as we continue to work together in various sectors. Higher education and research especially have always been central to our partnership with Indonesia.”
This year’s EMJM awardees are highly diverse in terms of the programme they partake in. EU Ambassador Piket added: “The Erasmus scholarship will allow the awardees to advance their experience and contribute to solving global challenges we are currently facing. This year’s awardees cover the wide range of study areas offered by the Erasmus programme, from sustainable technology to human rights, from public health to creative economy. We are confident that these awardees will contribute towards a more inclusive and sustainable world in their respective area of expertise.”
Prof. Ir. Nizam, MSc, DIC, PhD, Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, said: “The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme is very special because the students will not only study from one university in one country, but in at least two higher education institutions in two European countries. Therefore, they will get double impact of diversity immersion and networking in comparison to other scholarships,” stated Prof. Nizam. “I would also like to pay my highest respect to the European Union for granting the EMJM scholarship to Indonesian students, who will be studying in Europe for the next two years,” he added.
A pre-departure event kicked-off on Saturday (5/8) with an online public talk show about the Erasmus scholarship programme. The public session discussed the benefits of the scholarship, steps to apply, as well as testimonies from scholarship alumni. The talk show featured Amanda Restu Hamirani who will study Global Markets Local Creativities programme, M. Qoimam B. Zulfikar who will undertake Europubhealth+ programme, and Virza Maradhika, Erasmus Mundus Association country representative of Indonesia.
The event was also co-organised with the Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA) Indonesia, which aims to facilitate alumni networking opportunities and promote the benefits of the Erasmus scholarship to broader prospective applicants. EMA Indonesia Country Representative Dwi Fitriah Arrisandi said, “In this pre-departure event, we hope that awardees capture all the valuable insights shared by the alumni and help them be more prepared to seize the opportunity during their Erasmus journey. We wish all 2023 Erasmus awardees success in soaring to new adventures and unlocking boundless horizons."
M. Qoimam B. Zulfikar, a medical doctor awardee, speak of his reasons on choosing Europe to advance his study. “Erasmus Mundus allows students to study in multiple countries during the academic journey with a fully funded scheme. This is why I admire the Erasmus programme more than many other scholarship programmes. In my case, I will go to Belgium in the first year and will be in France in the second year,” he explained. He also reminiscence Europe as an inclusive and supportive place to study. “I experienced inclusiveness and European quality healthcare in 2017 during my exchange programme. While using a wheelchair after an accident, I visited several health Institutions for educational purposes. That experience amplifies my dream to discover deeply the public health realm and health equality in European countries.”
Another awardee, Vania Katherine Mulia, will be pursuing a cutting-edge programme titled Intelligent Field Robotics System (IFRoS). “I have always been interested in studying in Europe because Europe has a variety of cultures and values that are very different from the ones I grew up with, and thus I would like to gain exposure to such cultures and values. Also, Europe was the first continent to experience the industrial revolution. So, as I have an interest in STEM, I would like to experience first-hand the development of technology in Europe,” she said. “I am very excited to embark on this next journey in my education. I feel proud and grateful for the fact that my hard work in my previous education and while applying for scholarships has not gone in vain and that I am finally able to accomplish my dream of studying abroad,” she added.
The EMJM is an integrated and transnational postgraduate study programme for students from EU partner countries. The next call for applications to the EMJM scholarship programme will be launched around October 2023. Applicants can choose from a list of over 190 available programmes.
Between 2004 to 2022, more than 2,300 Indonesian students and lecturers have benefitted from the EU’s Erasmus scholarship programme. Around 1,200 scholarships are provided annually to Indonesian students, through the EU’s flagship Erasmus programme and from the various scholarship programmes offered by the EU Member States.
