The Australian Consortium for ‘In-country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) is a non-profit consortium of universities that facilitates academic and professional placements for Australian students in Indonesia. In 2018, in conjunction with Atma Jaya Catholic University, ACICIS welcomed over 130 students to Jakarta. The programs offered by ACICIS are many and varied, ranging from business to creative arts. The goal of ACICIS programs is to supplement and enrich student’s educational experience, providing a depth of understanding of program areas not available in traditional classroom settings. Through this, students are given the opportunity to understand the world from a global perspective.

Perhaps nowhere is this scope of thought required more than in the field of development studies. ACICIS’s specialised program, the development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP), aims to instil an awareness and understanding of the unique challenges facing Indonesian philanthropy with the goal of increased efficacy of programs and their implementation. The DSPP gives international students an awareness of cultural and contextual settings which are critical considerations in the planning of projects, often determining whether a project succeeds in its initial aims. Similarly, students are encouraged to work with host organisations, bringing a different understanding and approach to issues of development.

To this end, Filantropi Indonesia will be hosting a student from the University of Tasmania. A first-time visitor to Indonesia, Alexander Hansson will be working closely with Filantropi staff for the next month. He cites the good-natured people and vibrant city life as his favourite parts of Jakarta so far. More formally, his academic background is in economics and international relations, and he has a keen interest in the theoretical aspects of economic development, particularly sustainable development. His interests align well with Filantropi and our focus on the pursuit of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and we are glad to be working with ACICIS in this valuable undertaking.