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Indonesian elite students

7 September 2005

Sixteen Indonesian high school students have visited Monash as part of a cultural excursion to Australia.

The students, in their palace uniforms, at attention at Monash.

Their visit on 26 August completed a busy month for the students, who had acted as a guard of honour for the Indonesian Independence Day celebrations at the Royal Palace in Jakarta earlier in the month.

The Monash visit was organised by Mr Bas Koesasi, a senior lecturer in Indonesian studies in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts. He said the teenagers had undergone a month of special training before they took part in celebrations at the palace.

"These students, who are aged 16 and 17, were selected for their scholastic achievements, leadership potential, civic duty and personality. They are the best of the best from their country," he said.

Mr Koesasi said the aim of the Monash visit was to meet fellow students and exchange information about each country's language, culture and society.

The group was welcomed to Monash by Professor Gary Bouma, head of the School of Political and Social Inquiry in the Faculty of Arts and Monash students who are studying Indonesian language and culture as well as by students from Berwick Secondary College who are studying Indonesian.