A C I C I S

Indonesia from the ground up!

Indonesia from the ground up! is an initiative funded by the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program (NALSSP). It is designed to provide Australian educators with a comprehensive educational experience of Indonesia. It will:

provide a high-quality guided immersion experience of contemporary Indonesian society and culture, its history, and its political and social issues;
give principals, senior school administrators, and teachers of studies of society and environment, English and the Arts, the skills and understanding to teach about Asia;
inspire participants to serve as ‘Asia-advocates’ within their school and discipline communities.
give participants the enhanced skills required to incorporate Asia-related materials into the Humanities and Social Science learning areas.

The first two study tours were a HUGE success. See details of the July 2012 tour.

The range of activities for participants is totally unique and innovative, and is a careful balance of the theoretical and the practical, designed to attract a broad range of participants, and offers an experience of Indonesia that is often concealed by negative stereotypes and popular holiday destinations. It will bring Indonesia out of the textbook and into participants’ lived experience.

Dates and Costs
ACICIS application forms
Applications for July 2013 tour should be sent to the ACICIS Secretariat by May 1

What is included in the study tour?

3-4 star accommodation (share twin);
All lectures, transport, tours and activities;
Site entry fees;
Experienced group leader with Indonesian experience; and
English speaking guides

The study tour is designed for principals, senior school administrators, and liberal arts teachers – teachers of history, geography, arts, business, environment, media, and citizenship – those who have little or no Indonesian language skills. After arrival in Indonesia the group will then travel through Java to Bali. Participants will learn about Indonesia from the ground up through fieldtrips and engagements with local communities, buttressed by lectures and workshops. They will visit educational institutions (schools & universities), research centres, sites of historical, cultural and contemporary significance, a major media company, a wide variety of environmental and community NGOs, artistic organisations, a post-disaster reconstruction project, historic temples, and traditional villages. The tour will introduce Australian teachers to the workplaces of their Indonesian counterparts, with visits to schools in Jakarta, a BRIDGE school in Bali and an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Yogyakarta. They will experience first hand the Indonesian school environment.

There will be a balance of academic and ‘hands-on’ experiences, bringing scholarly analysis alive through practical engagement. The group will be supported by an experienced Indonesia-specialist from Australia, and a group of local counterparts in each location (pendamping –usually students from the local university or organisation), to assist with language, facilitate rapport and personalised interaction with the local community. Participants will have the opportunity to create new networks with Indonesian counterparts, and to collect authentic handouts, materials, videos, photographs and realia.

More Details

What is ACICIS?

This material was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) under the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program (NALSSP). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).