Nigerian students acquire skills sets, cross cultural divide, on Malaysian campuses

The first African-Asian conference was held in Bandung in 1955. 60 year later, leaders are marking that historic event in Jakarta and students from northern Nigeria are studying in Malaysia.

Deutsche Welle, 23 April 2015

While leaders of Asian and African nations were meeting in Jakarta to coordinate the promotion of common strategic interests, Musa Adamu was giving a lecture to his students at Bayero University, reaping the rewards of a year that he spent as a Nigerian student in Asia.

The 28-year-old has been lecturing in civil engineering for the last 12 months. He obtained his master's degree at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor Bahru in Malaysia in a highly practical example of Asian-African partnership.

He said that when he returned to Nigeria he "presented his work to Bayero University. Immediately they gave me an appointment within two weeks and after that I was taking the courses."

The UTM's motto is "We produce learners, leaders and thinkers" Adamu sees no reason to disagree with this claim. "Actually the university is of very high quality, because the government funds the university properly. They have enough manpower and equipment for laboratories," he said. It is one of the world's top 300 universities. Nigeria's universities don't even rank among the top 1,000, Adamu said.

Malaysian universities have a
 reputation of being cosmopolitan
and well-equipped

Good grades for Asia

Musa Adamu was one of around 2,500 Nigerian students who jumped aboard a plane on a cheap flight to Malaysia, some 10,000 kilometers (6,200miles) away from home.

The student exchange scheme was launched four years ago by Nigeria's Kano State. It encourages students to take courses in disciplines such as business information systems or communications studies. Students are also given financial assistance to help them with their studies.

"Asian economies are called tigers, they have developed rapidly into knowledge-based economies," said Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, spokesman for the governor of Kano State. "We want a similar pattern of development."

As soon as they return to Nigeria, the students will be able to make use of what they have learnt in order to move our state and our country forward, Bichi added.

Nigeria's universities are frequently hit by strike action which can mean it can take up to six years to acquire a degree. Conditions in Malaysia are different.

Another point in the country's favor is that Nigerian Muslims are able to practice their faith there. "Before you cannot imagine a Hausa Muslim girl leaving her parents' home to go not only outside the country, but even down south to go for tertiary education", Bichi said. "This adventure to Malysia has proved to be a very rewarding experience."

Rabiu Suleiman Bichi (left), spokesman
for the governor of Kano State, backs
overseas training for young Nigerians

Different people from different backgrounds

Salisu Babba Usman was particulary impressed by the openness of Malaysian society. The 28-year-old studied for three years at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. He has just obtained his master's degree in communications studies with an additional qualification in marketing and PR.

"The Malaysian university I attended has more than 30,000 students. I've had so many opportunities to meet so many different people that come from different backgrounds, have a different way of life," Usman said.

Malaysia is a country which is prepared to share its knowledge with outsiders. Its rich culture and the way in which Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus live side by side in one country fascinated Usman. "They are living in peace despite differences in culture and religion," said the northern Nigerian, whose experiences in his own country have been very different.

Australia launches leadership awards for Indonesian scholars

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 03/20/2009 5:06 PM

Indonesia's future leaders can start to apply to study in Australia in 2010 under the prestigious Australian Leadership Awards scholarships, Australian Embassy said in a media release published on Friday.

The Australian Leadership Awards constitute a regionally-competitive scholarship program that offers 150 awards annually for masters and doctoral study in Australia to future leaders from across Asia and the Pacific.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, said Indonesia had received the highest number of awards in the last two years. He is confident that Indonesians will continue to show their leadership potential in this year's round of applications.

"In both 2008 and 2009, Indonesia received the highest number of awards of any one country - testament to the leadership talent here. I hope they will not only contribute to the economic, social and community development of Indonesia but also strengthen the ties that bind our two countries," Farmer said.

In addition to studying for postgraduate qualifications, awardees also discuss and debate emerging leadership issues with their regional neighbors through a tailored leadership development program.

The priority themes for 2010 are highly relevant to development in Indonesia and the region. They include disability, economic growth, education, environment, food security, gender, governance, health, human rights, infrastructure, regional stability, rural development and water and sanitation.

Applications for 2010 open on 19 March 2009 and close on 30 June 2009.

Further information is available on the Australian scholarships websitewww.australianscholarships.gov.au

ASEAN foundation to provide research scholarship to Myanmar students

Philstar, March 16, 2009 11:06 PM 

YANGON (Xinhua) - The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation will provide research scholarship to Myanmar students to pursue master degree in the Singapore National university, the local Weekly Eleven reported today. 

The foundation sets that the scholarship winning students are to work for at least two years in their mother country or one of ASEAN countries after getting master degree, the report said, adding that the application for the scholarship will close on March 25. 

The ASEAN foundation was established in 1997 to support the continued development of the people in the ASEAN countries. 

Meanwhile, other ASEAN member countries were also offering scholarship to Myanmar students in education and technological fields, according to earlier report. 

The Nanyang Institute of Management (NIM) and the PSB Academy of Singapore made such offer for pursual of diploma in tourism and hospitality management program. 

Besides, the Rangsit university of Thailand will also hold a seminar in Yangon along with its university entrance examination to select Myanmar students who deserve scholarships, other report said. 

Moreover, a Malaysian company, the Petronas Oil Company, also granted scholarships to Myanmar students to study at the Petronas Technological University in January. 

Dutch open education office

Bangkok Post, By: PROF B JAMES JOHNSON, 17/03/2009 at 12:00 AM 

The Netherlands embassy in Bangkok and Nuffic Neso Thailand opened an office in Thailand on March 6 dedicated to serving Thai students who are interested in studying in Holland. The Nuffic Neso (Netherlands Education Support Offices) centre is the 10th such education support office opened worldwide, behind Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Taipei, and Vietnam. 

With scissors in hand and ready to cut the ceremonial ribbon at the official opening of the Nuffic Neso Thailand office are, from left, Assoc Prof Dr Piniti Ratananukul, deputy secretary general of the Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Thailand; Mr Sander van den Eijnden, president of Nuffic; the Netherlands’ Ambassador to Thailand, Mr Tjaco T. van den Hout; and Mr Erik Martijnse, deputy director, Directorate of Higher Education, the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture & Science. B. JAMES JOHNSON

Services 

Nuffic provides information on Dutch higher education, curricula, diplomas, titles and degrees. 

This information is often distributed through Neso, whose main tasks are the promotion of Dutch higher education and the enhancement of cooperation between higher education institutions in the Netherlands and institutions, in this case, in Thailand and the region. 

Neso will also channel information and provide support and liaison for the academic communities of the Netherlands and Thailand and will provide information about student visas. 

Erik Martijnse, deputy director, Directorate of Higher Education, Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture & Science and Student Finance, in delivering the keynote address, said: "The Neso offices are responsible for the generic promotion of Dutch higher education and for recruiting talented foreign students." 

He added that, "They also support initiatives for institutional collaboration between Dutch higher education institutions and international partners in students' own countries," concluding that, "In this way, they play a role in supporting both individual student and higher education institutions in both the Netherlands and Thailand." 

Mr Tjaco van den Hout, the Netherlands Ambassador to Thailand emphasized that it is the goal of Nuffic Neso to foster a "balanced exchange of Thai students who study in the Netherlands and Dutch students who come to study in Thailand". 

History of cooperation 

Erik Martijnse cited the 405-year commercial history between the Netherlands and Thailand (major Dutch companies operating today in Thailand are ABN-Amro, Heineken, Philips and Unilever) as another reason for the higher education institutions of the two countries to have a closer working relationship. 

At least five Thai universities have had a collaborative relationship since 1993 with the veterinary medicine faculty of Utrecht University, which is in the fourth largest city of the Netherlands. 

The Neso office has been in the making for several years, since the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2007 and the trip by Thai education administrators to the Netherlands last December, which resulted in agreements on student loan systems and education cooperation between the countries. 

On the rise 

Soehirman Patmo, director of Neso Thailand said, "Education in the Netherlands is excellent and our universities are already very international in curriculum, scope and student population," with Martijnse adding that "the Netherlands has 14 research universities and 41 universities of applied sciences, which offer more than 1300 bachelor's and master's degree programmes - all with English as the medium of instruction." In conclusion, he said, "In 2008, about 160 Thai students were studying at Dutch institutions of higher learning, eight times more than in 2000!" 

For more information, visit http://www.nuffic.nl and http://www.nesothailand.org .

RI, Netherlands ink 11 deals on legal affairs

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 02/23/2009 10:19 PM 

Justice meeting: Netherlands Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin (center) speaks during a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Andi Mattalata in Jakarta on Monday. Ballin was accompanied by Netherlands Ambassador to Indonesia Nikolas Van Dam (right). JP/Ricky Yudhistira.
 

Indonesia and the Netherlands have signed 11 memorandum of understanding on legal deals and pledged to work together to combat any international crimes, tempointeraktif.com reports. 

The 11 deals include cooperatives on human rights, immigration, intellectual rights, human resources development and public legal administration. 

After the dealing signature with the Netherlands Justice Minister Justice EMH Hirsch Baillin, Justice and Human Rights Ministry Andi Mattalatta said that he was expecting that all legal enforcers could learn on the agreement and apply the Netherlands good legal system in Indonesia. 

“We have agreed to form joint committee involving students from the Netherlands and local students from Padjajaran University and University of Indonesia,” he said. 

This agreement was aimed at renewing similar cooperatives by both countries in 1995 and is valid until 2014. (ewd)

‘People need to recognize themselves as ASEAN people’

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Mon, 02/23/2009 9:11 AM  

Leader of Thailand’s Democrat Party, 44-year-old British-born and Oxford-educated Abhisit Vejjajiva, was elected the Thai Prime Minister in mid-December last year after months of political unrest that ruined the country’s reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most significant democracies. During his short visit to Indonesia last week, the “housewives’ choice” prime minister talked with several Indonesian journalists, including The Jakarta Post’s Erwida Maulia, about various issues, ranging from the anger of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Rohingya boatpeople and the progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Charter. The following is an excerpt. 

Question: How do you handle the resistance of Thaksin’s supporters to you leadership? 

Answer: I think the best way to handle all these problems is by working with people and proving that we are here to address their concerns. After by-elections countrywide the government won by a big majority, this means that the people want to give us an opportunity. And over the last term (about two months), we’ve made significant progress and people accept that we are working very hard to address the economic issues, pushing through the stimulus package, steering the mid-year budget which has been passed in lower house and to be passed in the Senate on Monday. We could also prove that the government is working again after all those troubles last year. 

What will you do with Thaksin? Will you bring him home to Thailand for reconciliation and to calm his supporters? 

We will seek extradition but we can’t. I think reconciliation has to be achieved through justice and the rule of law. Thaksin has violated the law; he has to accept the consequences of that. But you know that Thailand is a very forgiving society. But you have to be, under the law you have to accept your responsibilities, face the consequences of your actions. 

Regarding the global economic recession, how do you project the growth of the Thai economy? 

Like many emerging economies, especially open economies, we have been badly hit by the drop in global demands. So our export numbers and tourism numbers over the last three to four months have been very bad. What we do is we try to sustain and stimulate the domestic market. But, that cannot fully replace the drop in the global demand. 

Obviously we have not seen problems of this scale before and nobody is quite sure when the global economy will see an upturn. 

But I still believe that good coordination and strong packages worldwide, and most importantly swift and clear decision making on the financial climate in the United States and in Europe, will help ease the situation as the end of the year approaches. 

About the problems in Southern Thailand, will your government consider  inviting Indonesia into a mediation process to help solve the problems? 

Indonesia has been very helpful in explaining the situation to the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). There are also organizations like the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Muhammadiyah which offer scholarship exchanges. They came to help expand the opportunities of young people in the area and help us in solving the problems. We appreciate that. 

What kind of role do you expect Indonesia to play? 

We have had very good discussions with the President [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono], and we understand in essence that this is a domestic problem, but, you know, you have the experience; we are keen to learn from you. 

During your talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, what do you and ASEAN plan to do regarding the Rohingya boat people? 

There are things that we can do unilaterally in terms of stopping the trade of humans and human trafficing. Thailand will do its part. I have already referred these cases in terms of smuggling and trading in humans to the special investigation department so that we can crack down on this in Thailand. But it won’t be enough. We need regional cooperation, and we also expect the international organizations like the UNHCR to try stop the problem from its source. 

Basically these are people who seek special opportunities and they enter various countries illegally. Of course we could leave it up to individual countries to deal with, like all countries do in the world. But clearly this is something that would be better handled if there was some kind of regional cooperation. So ASEAN could discuss it, the Bali Process would be used, and we propose to set up a contact group of affected countries to work closely with international organizations to find a better solution. 

Does this mean that the Rohingya issue will be a main topic at the upcoming ASEAN Summit? 

I think it will be discussed during the summit, but there are so many other important matters on the agenda too. Myanmar will be present. For ASEAN countries wanting to realize the ASEAN community, we need to have a more open talk about issues that matter to people in the region. We’re not going to be engaged in the blame game, but we will try to seek solutions that will help better the lives of the people in the region. 

Do you think the ASEAN Charter will do much to promote democracy in Southeast Asia? 

One of the elements that we will certainly help push forward is the setting up of the ASEAN human rights body, which needs to be both realistic and credible. I think we’ll make good progress. We hope that by the 15th Summit this body can be approved. 

What kind of steps do you think can be taken to work toward the realization of an ASEAN community? 

The real challenge is first of all to raise the people’s awareness [about ASEAN]. Because of the diversity in the region, the recognition of all the people that they are part of the ASEAN is still not strong. We need to have people recognize themselves as ASEAN people, and that still needs a lot of work. We will begin the process at the 14th ASEAN Summit which will provide the opportunity for parliamentarians, youth groups and civil societies to meet the leaders.  

Indonesia, Thailand ink first ever student exchange deal

The Jakarta Post  |  Sat, 02/21/2009 5:10 PM  

Indonesia and Thailand have signed an agreement for an exchange student program to commencer this year, the first cooperation of its kind between the two countries, an official said. 

Director General for Higher Education Fasli Djalal said Saturday that Indonesia is set to host 28 students from Thailand who would take courses in Indonesian, cultural studies and technology. 

Higher education institutions that will host the students include Gajah Mada University, the University of Indonesia, the Bandung Institute of Technology, the Indonesian Education University, Hasanuddin University, Lambung Mangkurat University, the Surabaya Institute of Technology, Bina Nusantara University, Pancasila University, Muhammadiyah University and Petra University. 

In exchange, Indonesia will send nine post graduate students to Thailand to study international trade, tourism and hospitality. 

“We will only send a few because this is the first time we have had an exchange cooperation program with Thailand,” Fasli said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com. 

Fasli said he and Thailand’s Secretary-General of the Commission on Higher Education Sumate Yamnoon signed the agreement two days ago. (and)