NEW YORK, February 2012—PRESTASI is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Indonesia-funded project that sponsors future leaders from the public and private sectors in Indonesia to pursue graduate degrees in the United States. The Indonesia International Education Foundation (IIEF) is the prime contractor in the administration of this project, with the Institute of International Education (IIE) serving as a subcontractor.
Project Objective:
The PRESTASI project was created to develop the capacity of five targeted sectors in Indonesia: democracy and governance, economic growth, education, environment, and public health. These sectors represent a convergence of U.S. and Indonesian interests that are necessary to further Indonesia’s democratic transformation, diminish Indonesian poverty and mitigate global threats.
PRESTASI scholars are recruited for their academic integrity and leadership potential with the mandate that they will return to Indonesia after completing their program and build the capacity of the institution or organization from which they were recruited. The sponsorship covers full tuition and required fees, a monthly living stipend, health insurance, as well as other supplemental allowances. IIEF takes great care to monitor the academic progress and general well-being of our scholars during their entire program.
Background:
Indonesia, a middle-income G-20 country and the world’s third largest democracy, serves as a model for blending a democratic political system with a largely Muslim society. The country has economically achieved much progress in the past five years and has weathered the global economic storm relatively well with a growth rate of 6.0-6.5% in 2010 and a forecast of 6.2% in 2011. Its future is on a positive trajectory, but one of Indonesia’s greatest resources – its young professionals and the institutions they work for – must be ready to take on both the domestic and global challenges of the 21st century.
A key component of the U.S. government’s development program in Indonesia has always been training and the support for both short and long-term exchange opportunities in the U.S. USAID/Indonesia is continuing its support of this initiative through its second-generation Participant Training program, PRESTASI, which provides opportunities to Indonesians for academic degrees and technical training. This program is structured in a way that helps Indonesian individuals, organizations, and institutions acquire the knowledge, skills, and capacity to support Indonesia’s on-going development and the achievement of the Mission’s strategic objectives.
Achievements to date:
PRESTASI continues managing the participant training activities that were initiated under the FORECAST HICD (Human and Institutional Capacity Development) task order from USAID/Indonesia. As of November 2011, PRESTASI has achieved the following:
- 58 scholars are studying in the U.S. for their Master’s and Doctoral degrees;
- 20 scholars are studying in Indonesia for their Master’s and Doctoral degrees;
- 24 scholars graduated between May and August 2011;
- 25 scholars plan to graduate during the 2011/12 academic year;
- 18 scholars will begin their programs in the 2011/2012 academic year;
- 24 newly selected scholars from the April 2011 selection process are scheduled to begin their studies in the U.S. in Fall Term 2012;
- 24 scholars from the February 2012 selection process are scheduled to begin their studies in the U.S. in Fall Term 2013.
Project Details
Project Name: PRESTASI (Program to Extend Scholarships and Training to Achieve Sustainable Impacts)
Client: USAID
Value of contract: $4,994,856
Duration: April 15, 2011 – April 12, 2012
Prime Contractor: Indonesian International Education Foundation (IIEF)
Partners: Indonesian International Education Foundation
Contact info for project (US, and Indonesia):
Mira Sambada, Chief of Party – IIEF mira.sambada@iief.or.id
Susan Fickling, Director of Participant Training – IIE sfickling@iie.org
About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of over 20 offices worldwide and over 1,000 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.
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