Beginning in November 2025, Acicis held another intake of the Development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP) program, with 18 students participating. The students who participated in the program come from exceptional universities in Australia, including the University of Western Australia, the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, Monash University, Murdoch University, the University of Queensland, RMIT University, and the University of New South Wales. Student participation in this program is largely due to the support of the Australian government, with recipients receiving AUD 4,000 funds under the New Colombo Plan.
We happily welcome Dr Maharani ‘Rani’ Hapsari as our DSPP Academic Program Officer (APO) for this cohort. It is all thanks to her that the content for both the seminars and field trips was very engaging and insightful. She was also responsible for overseeing students during their placements, enabling them to maximise their professional experience in Indonesia. Dr Rani was also accompanied by Tristan, Acicis Program Assistant, who is responsible for liaising with different stakeholders and giving pastoral care to students if needed. They ensure the DSPP program runs smoothly and that all students are well supported throughout their academic journey.
With a different program timeline from the previous one, we held three online seminars covering an overview of Indonesia, human rights in Indonesia, and climate change and sustainable development in Indonesia. After that, the offline excursion began on 21 November 2025 with an orientation to Indonesia to help them better adjust to the new culture and environment.
Throughout their week at Atma Jaya University, students participated in seminars on gender, community development, and human resources in Indonesia, complemented by immersive Indonesian-language classes. They also had the opportunity to visit the Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP) Indonesia collection centre in North Jakarta and Kampung Susun Akuarium. Acicis later introduced students to Wayang, a traditional Indonesian puppet art form, as an extracurricular activity. They not only explored the rich culture of Wayang but also enjoyed a delightful painting session together.
The first field trip that the DSPP students took was to the POPSEA collection centre located in North Jakarta. During their visit, they learned about the global supply chain at a macro level and observed firsthand the micro-level operations, where waste warriors store recyclable plastics for later processing by POPSEA. It was a fascinating experience to explore the contrasting waste management practices between Indonesia and Australia.
The second field trip was at Kampung Susun Akuarium, also located in North Jakarta. It was a community-led housing project. Engaging with local residents highlighted the significant impact of collective action in overcoming urban challenges, demonstrating the potential of community-driven initiatives in Indonesia and their advocacy for housing rights.
After equipped with the academic knowledge and the background of Indonesia, particularly development works in Indonesia, the students went on to 11 different professional practicum organisations (PPO), 9 of them are in the Greater Jakarta area, and 2 of them are in Yogyakarta. The respective PPOs that hosted DSPP students are: Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) Indonesia, Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) Indonesia, Harapan Fian, Komisi Nasional Perlindungan Perempuan (Komnas Perempuan), Monev Studio Global, Penabulu Foundation, Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana (PKB) Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia (POPSEA), PT Polindo Utama, Rujak Center for Urban Studies, and YAPEKA. Acicis extends heartfelt thanks to these incredible organisations for their support and dedication in hosting our students.
The host organisations gave our students the opportunity to have hands-on experience in the development works. Mentor and staff from AMAN Indonesia invited our students to go to Sekolah Perempuan in Kampung Bambu and the Women, Religion, and Constitutional Participation Symposium in Yogyakarta to learn about the importance of community focus in development and women’s empowerment within the Indonesian context, as well as peacebuilding efforts. At Penabulu Foundation, a student travelled to Bali to support the GEDSI JET Working Group, working with OXFAM’s ASEAN partners on projects to include Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion in regional energy policies for a fair energy transition. Also, our students who were placed at POPSEA and PT Polindo Utama went to Bantargebang, Waste4Change, Kertabumi Recycling Center, and the Women’s Waste Collectors Association. This experience added a layer to their understanding of the challenges and intricacies of waste management in Indonesia and deepened their grasp of the supply chain.
The DSPP concluded on 22 December 2025, marked by a closing ceremony that included the Professional Practicum students, staff from Atma Jaya Catholic University, mentors from the PPOs, and the Acicis team. It was truly rewarding to see everyone’s commitment and effort toward the success of this program.
By engaging with real-world development challenges alongside local communities in Indonesia, students can get valuable skills and insights that will benefit their future pursuits. We believe students will have more opportunities to actively engage with community projects focused on various areas of development work in the future. We wish them all the best in their future endeavour!
Sampai jumpa lagi di Indonesia!
Learn more about the Development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP) here
