We are delighted to announce the next deployment of the Acicis alumni tracer study, following the success of the initial study conducted in 2021. 

Since 1995, nearly 5,000 students have undertaken study in Indonesia through the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (Acicis). Acicis has contributed significantly to the maintenance of Indonesia-related expertise in Australia and the cultivation of a new generation of Australians with first-hand experience of, and passion for, engagement with Indonesia. Acicis alumni now hold significant positions in government, academia and business and, anecdotally at least, are acknowledged to contribute to the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship in a myriad of ways, in a wide diversity of fields, well beyond their formative encounters with Indonesia as university students. This study is seeking to determine and, to an extent, quantify the contribution that Acicis alumni have made to the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia, as well as the impact that undertaking an Acicis program has had on the academic, personal and career development of program participants.  

The study is being conducted by The University of Western Australia as a longitudinal research project, with surveys administered to cohorts of Acicis alumni at five-year intervals.  

We are now inviting participation in the next study, which is specifically targeting alumni who completed Acicis programs in 1998 and 2003. 

The research team conducting this tracer study is as follows: 

  • Liam Prince (Co-investigator), Acicis Consortium Director; and 
  • Megan McPherson (Co-investigator), Acicis Marketing and Engagement Manager 

Approval to conduct this research has been provided by The University of Western Australia’s Human Ethics Office (UWA Ethics Ref No: 2020/ET000071). Participation in the study is entirely voluntary. Alumni can withdraw from the study at any time without explanation or penalty. 

If you completed an Acicis program in 1998 or 2003, we would greatly appreciate it if you could set aside 10-15 minutes to complete the anonymous online survey. Alumni from these cohorts have been sent an email containing a survey link. If you are an Acicis alumni from these years but have not received an email and survey link, and would like to participate in the study, please contact the ACICIS Secretariat at acicis@acicis.edu.au or on +61 8 6488 6675, and we will provide you with the survey link. 

The survey will be open until Monday, 31st March 2025. 

Your participation in this study will contribute to a better understanding of the impact of Acicis on the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship and on students’ personal, academic and career development. The data collected from this study will also help to inform and improve the design and delivery of Acicis programs in the future.