Indonesian Embassy joins unique internship program at ANU
ANU and Indonesian embassy officials among Balinese statues at the Indonesian embassy, Canberra. Image: Wahono
The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra has formally joined a unique student internship program based at The Australian National University.
The Australian National Internships Program (ANIP) places undergraduate and postgraduate students in embassies, national institutions, government departments and political offices and is the only scheme of its kind in Australia.
“In 2016 we welcome the participation of the Indonesian and Afghanistan embassies, taking to 15 the number of regular and irregular diplomatic missions involved in our unique program,” said ANIP Director Dr Marshall Clark.
“Students gain real, practical experience that compliments their studies at ANU and then formally present to their peers what they learned during their internship.”
Dr Clark, who has a PhD in Southeast Asian Studies and is a fluent speaker of Indonesian, organised the Memorandum of Understanding between ANU and the embassy.
It was formally signed on 17 February by College of Arts and Social Sciences Dean, Professor Paul Pickering, and Indonesian Education and Cultural Attaché, Professor Ronny Rachman Noor.
Professor Pickering said ANIP was one of the flagship courses of the university and added the ANU was grateful the embassy had agreed to take on interns for this semester and beyond.
Professor Noor said the embassy was happy to be involved and hoped ANU students would learn more about Indonesian culture and education during their internship.
Lily Matthews said she was very excited to be the first ANU intern in the embassy and will be working in the education and culture office.
In 2014 Lily completed her Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies, which included German, Korean and Indonesian, and is now undertaking the internship as part of her Master of Translation.
ANIP began in 1993 when ANU students interned at Parliament House for the first time.
The program has since expanded to other government organisations and diplomatic missions including the United States, Ecuador, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, and Palestine.
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