On Monday 2nd May, 2016, ACICIS was invited to attend a higher education briefing with the visiting WA Education Minister, Hon. Peter Collier MLC and Vice Chancellors from WA’s five universities – The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and The University of Notre Dame.

Attendees at the forum were:

  • Hon Peter Collier MLC – WA Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Electoral Affairs
  • Mr Chris Barnes, Regional Director, WA Government Trade and Investment Office Jakarta
  • Professor Celia Hammond – Vice Chancellor, The University of Notre Dame
  • Prof.essor Paul Johnson, Vice Chancellor, The University of Western Australia
  • Professor Eeva Leinonen – Vice Chancellor, Murdoch University
  • Professor Deborah Terry AO – Vice Chancellor, Curtin University
  • A/Prof. Simon Leunig – Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Curtin University
  • Prof. Arshad Omari – Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Edith Cowan University
  • Prof. Simon Ridings – Deputy Vice Chancellor (International), Edith Cowan University
  • Mr Mike Ryan – Executive Director, StudyPerth
  • Prof. Peta Sanderson – Pro Vice Chancellor (International and Research), The University of Notre Dame
  • Richard Strickland – Director General, Department of Education Services
  • Professor Andrew Taggart – Advisor to the Vice Chancellor, Murdoch University
  • Mr Michael Tetlow – Media Advisor, WA Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Electoral Affairs
  • Mr Iain Watt – Pro Vice Chancellor (International), The University of Western Australia
  • Ms Astrida Upitis – Counsellor (Education & Science), Australian Embassy, Jakarta
  • Ms Elena Williams – Resident Director, ACICIS
  • Mr Nurfitra Asa – Jakarta and Bandung Program Coordinator, ACICIS

ACICIS’ Resident Director, Elena Williams, discussed the WA state government’s involvement in increasing Australian student numbers to Indonesia, and the role that state governments can play in supporting the federal New Colombo Plan initiative. Elena also briefed the delegates in ACICIS’ newest program offerings, including the Agriculture Semester Program (ASP), set to pilot in August 2016 at Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, the Public Health Study Tour (PHST), set to run in November-December 2016, and the Creative Arts & Design Professional Practicum (CADPP) that will run alongside ACICIS’ Jakarta Professional Practica in January-February 2017.

ACICIS greatly values the long-standing relationships with its WA universities, in particular our current host university, The University of Western Australia; previous host university, Murdoch University; and member, Curtin University, who were all represented at the forum. We hope to welcome Edith Cowan University and The University of Notre Dame to the consortium in the future!