Dear readers, welcome to our first edition of Happenings newsletter in 2024!

Indonesia and the Netherlands have a strong higher education and science cooperation for decades. This year will be interesting for this connection, with many events and activities, the first WINNER conference in the Netherlands, and celebrating 100 years of cooperation in legal education between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands and Indonesia have organized the WINNER conference for four years to talk about higher education and research collaboration. This year marks the fifth edition, and WINNER will be organized for the first time in the Netherlands. Topic about water, energy, health, agriculture (food), and human capital development will be discussed. Other issues may include is cultural collaboration. Our social media will announce the proposal call soon!

The Netherlands has supported Indonesia's human capital development through capacity-building and scholarship initiatives for decades. Our scholarship program with DIKTI and the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) begins in 2024. About 25 students will get Dutch master's scholarships. These scholarships focus on important sectors such water management and technology, sustainable and circular economies, maritime, transport, public health, cultural heritage, security, and the rule of law. These areas strategically promote Indonesia-Netherlands relations, which will remain important in the future.

An International Knowledge and Talent Strategy (IKT) from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW) organizes international cooperation. Efforts include the creation of a network of education and science attachés. Eight Education and Science Attachés work for the Ministry at embassies abroad, including Indonesia. The Embassy's Education and Science team aims to boost Dutch-Indonesian higher education and science cooperation. The Education and Science team collaborates with Nuffic Southeast Asia and the NL Knowledge House in Indonesia. These higher education and science cooperation produce synergy, allowing us to provide excellent and integrated service to the Dutch knowledge sector in Indonesia.

With International Women’s Day coming up, it is important to highlight that the Netherlands fully supports gender equality in education and science. There are equal opportunities for both men and women through the scholarship program in Indonesia. The Netherlands and Indonesia also work together to promote equal access to education in other parts of the world. For example, our country fully supports Indonesia’s leading role in ensuring Afgan girls’ and women’s right to education. The Education and Science team at the Embassy embraces all initiatives on gender equality in education and science and supports them whenever possible.

Happy readings!

Education & Science Attaché Yvonne Klerks