Staff from UMM visit Western Australia

One of the main partner universities for ACICIS in Indonesia is Universitas Muhammadiyah (UMM) in Malang, East Java. So we were delighted when staff from UMM decided to visit Perth in Western Australia. That is, of course, where the ACICIS secretariat is based.

A group of 12 academics arrived in late October 2004. They were led by Vina Salviana Darvina S., MSi, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science (FISIP) at UMM. Others in the group were those staff who deal directly with ACICIS students and also members of the Department of Social Welfare.

The group were given warm welcomes by teachers and students from the three university partners in Perth that send students to Indonesia on the ACICIS 'Study Indonesia Program'. These are Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia.

The group also visited the Australian Islamic College in Kewdale, where they were surprised to find a dynamic and thriving school teaching an Islamic curriculum. They also visited the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch University, where they gained a taste of indigenous culture. They were given a traditional aboriginal welcome including being presented with traditional message sticks, before seeing some traditional dance and tasting some "bush tucker".

"Muhammadiyah University is one of Indonesia's most impressive private Muslim universties" said ACICIS Consortium Director Professor David Hill. "The independent field-study program it offers each semester is one of the most innovative and challenging available anywhere."

Click here to see photos of the visit.