Leading Indonesian expert, Professor David Hill will visit CDU this week to find out more about its unique Indonesian language program and how CDU takes advantage of its geographical location to encourage students to study Indonesian.
“CDU is on Asia’s doorstep. The university offers in-country programs in Indonesia and courses for professionals working in industries where knowledge of the language is beneficial. It’s the perfect place to study Indonesian.”
Professor Hill is from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Murdoch University and has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council to develop a national plan for the advancement of Indonesian in Australian universities.
Despite the strategic importance of Indonesia, and the increasing demand for Indonesian-speaking graduates, programs around the country are under threat, and fewer students are choosing to study the language.
Professor Hill intends to tackle this pressing problem and demonstrate the value of language learning through a series of activities, including a national tour of universities. “Indonesia is a stable democracy with a massive economy. There are opportunities out there for those with Indonesian qualifications,” he said.
During his visit to Darwin Professor Hill will meet with CDU teaching and administrative staff to discuss strategies to strengthen Indonesian. “I hope to draw on the experiences of staff at CDU in the development of a policy paper which will be presented to government and universities.”
Professor Hill will visit CDU on Thursday and will also meet informally with CDU students on Friday morning before the screening of Indonesian film Sang Pemimpi (The Dreamer) at Darwin Cinema.