ADDIS ABABA—The Indonesian Embassy in Addis Ababa and Hawassa University convened the Embassy’s initiative ‘Goes to Campus’ academic diplomacy engagement program in Hawassa, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples State on Wednesday, 7 November 2019.
This program is an effort to engage more civitas academica in diplomacy and promote better and closer bilateral cooperation between Ethiopia and Indonesia, the Embassy stated in its press release sent to The Ethiopian Herald.
In his keynote speech during the program, Al Busyra Basnur, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Ethiopia, Djibouti and the African Union, explained the Indonesian Foreign Policy, Indonesian Economic Updates and Indonesian Educational System.
“Public diplomacy can start anywhere, and with anyone, campus is one of the best places to start,” said Ambassador Al Busyra. He also stated that the Embassy promotes degree and non-degree scholarships for Ethiopian nationals, such as Darmasiswa and Developing Country Cooperation Scholarship. Until 2019, there has been more than 60 Ethiopian students that have received Scholarship.
Today, many Ethiopian students are studying in various Universities in Indonesia. During his visit to Airlangga University in the city of Surabaya last August 2019, Ambassador Al Busyra Basnur met and discussed with 6 Ethiopian students.
Indonesian Embassy will also send Ethiopian students to participate in Bali Democracy Students Conference, on 5-6 December 2019 in Bali, Indonesia. Around 150 students from many countries will attend the conference being held annually.
Vice Presiden of Hawassa University, Dr. Fiseha Getachew said that there are much potential for university-to-university cooperation between the two countries.
Previously, Hawassa University had already been engaged with a number of universities in Indonesia, namely University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, BINUS University, and Bogor Agricultural University. Indonesian Embassy’s ‘Goes to Campus’ will continue to Wollo University on Wednesday, 13 November 2019.
The Ethiopian Herald, November 10/2019
BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER
