HISTORIC DAY FOR FULBRIGHT INDONESIA

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000933 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/PD, ECA/A, ECA/A/E/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL ID SUBJECT: HISTORIC DAY FOR FULBRIGHT INDONESIA ¶1. (U) Mission is pleased to report that on Friday, May 29, 2009, the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) and the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGHE/DIKTI),Ministry of National Education (MONE),signed an agreement that will allow DIKTI to fund scholarships through AMINEF/Fulbright. Although Fulbright has been active in Indonesia since 1952, this is the first time the Government of Indonesia has funded Fulbright scholarships. ¶2. (U) The Fulbright-DIKTI Scholarships will provide funding for up to 400 Indonesians over the next four years, for PhDs, MAs, doctoral dissertation research and post-graduate research (which the Indonesians call "recharging"). The agreement was signed by DGHE Director of Human Resources Muchlas Samani and AMINEF Executive Director Mike McCoy, and witnessed by Director General Fasli Jalal, Charge d'Affaires Walter North (also a member of the AMINEF Board of Trustees),the PAO, CAO and several other AMINEF Board members and staff, DGHE staff, and a representative from the Foreign Ministry. ¶3. (U) DIKTI officials spoke to the press after the ceremony and issued a press release. Post issued a photo from the signing ceremony. HUME