by Francesca Beddie, editor, Asian Currents,
fbeddie@infinite.net.au
The June editorial of Globe Asia, something like Indonesia’s
equivalent to Fortune magazine, introduces an edition featuring the 150 wealthiest
Indonesians, now worth USD$69.3 billion. Fifteen are billionaires. The editor’s
comment is that it is not just the global economic climate and boom in commodities
that has created this wealth but also ‘the drive and entrepreneurial
skills of these … individuals’. One can’t help thinking,
however, while skimming the list, that political connections still count in
Indonesian business – many New Order names appear, including people
from the extended Soeharto family and their associates.
Flip over a few pages and you find an article on Indonesia’s
labour market which, despite the boom times, is characterised by a steady
rise in the number of people who have given up looking for work – discouraged
workers – as well as the 10 million Indonesians who are unemployed (Statistics
Indonesia, 2007). It is still hard to get a good job in Indonesia, with many
of those unemployed relatively well educated and not prepared to take low
paid jobs.
Globe Asia champions the free market. It has criticised the
government for wasting money on cash handouts for the poor when it might boost
productivity among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To do that, however,
will also require increasing the level of workers’ skills.
Yet vocational education remains the poor country cousin
of academic education, with not enough investment, poor facilities, weak links
to industry and – hardly surprising – a negative image. According
to its five-year plan, the Indonesian Government wants to expand, improve
and make more appealing vocational education. It has just taken out an ADB
loan of $80 million to strengthen vocational education over the next five
years. That project aims to put 22,000 students from low income families a
year in a more competitive position as they enter the labour force. And two
ILO projects worth around $25 million are working to strengthen links between
vocational education centres and industry.
This is a big challenge, not least because of the complexity
of the educational task. As in most other countries, vocational teachers in
Indonesia are grappling with how to transfer the ‘soft skills’
most workers now require. A recent study by Wagiran, a researcher in the Faculty
of Engineering, Yogyakarta State University, looked at vocational skills in
the manufacturing sector. It identified honesty and a good work ethic, discipline,
initiative and creativity, and adaptability in the top ten attributes required
of a worker. Yet few manufacturing graduates are taught these skills at school.
This means that many employers have to train new workers themselves –
both in technical skills and in the basics of workplace behaviour. The study
recommends more collaboration between vocational schools and industry, as
well as integrating soft skills within the daily learning process, creating
an industry atmosphere at school and maximising vocational/career assistance.
With the Indonesian private sector now boasting 15 billionaires,
those recommendations appear modest. There may also be a case for big business
to boost vocational education for the skilled labour they will need to keep
up their productivity, starting with an injection of capital into their nation’s
training system.
Links:
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Wagiran’s paper was presented at the inaugural VTE
Research and Networking Conference in July 2008 in Indonesia
http://www.voctech.org.bn
Profile
This month we profile Jan Lingard, honorary associate, University
of Sydney and author of Refugees and Rebels: Indonesian Exiles In Wartime
Australia Australian Scholarly Press (forthcoming) jan.lingard@usyd.edu.au
Q: When did you become interested in Asia and why?
A: My interest began about 40 years ago when I left my teaching
job to raise a family. During this time I attended an Adult Education course
entitled ‘Our Northern Neighbours’. I chose this course because
at the time I knew very little about those neighbours, despite our geographic
proximity. I can still remember how intrigued I was as we were introduced
to these diverse non-European cultures, and I wanted to know more. The following
term the only Asia related course was on Indonesia. I took that course and
thus began an interest and involvement that continues to this day. When my
family moved to Canberra just as Gough Whitlam introduced free tertiary education,
I seized the opportunity to enrol at Australian National University (ANU)
as a mature age student in the Faculty of Asian Studies. I did an honours
degree in Asian Civilisations and Indonesian, and on completion of my degree
I was offered a job tutoring Indonesian language. I taught there for 13 years.
When I moved back to Sydney in 1991 I was appointed as a tutor, then later
lecturer in Indonesian at the University of Sydney where I stayed until I
retired in 2001. My life has been enriched beyond measure by my relationship
with Indonesia and its people.
Q: What are your current preoccupations? And how do
these fit into the contemporary scene?
A: During my time at ANU and Sydney University I
developed a strong interest in literary translation and published several
collections of short stories, including one, Eyewitness, by Seno Gumira Ajidarma,
which won a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. Apart from the linguistic
challenge of translation, I had a strong desire to attempt to make the world
of Indonesians, as expressed by their own writers, accessible to non Indonesian
speakers. Eyewitness was significant because the stories in the collection
exposed the atrocities committed during the Indonesian occupation of East
Timor, and they were written by an Indonesian, at great personal risk to himself.
At a time when the Australian media were demonising everyone and everything
Indonesian I felt it was important to try to provide another perspective and
an Indonesian voice.
A few years ago I moved in another direction when I became
aware that during World War II, several thousand Indonesians had come to Australia
as evacuees when the Japanese invaded the then Netherlands East Indies. I
was intrigued by the idea of these ‘Asiatics’, to use the parlance
of the day, taking up residence in White Australia. I wondered where they
went, what they did and most of all, how they engaged with ordinary Australians.
It has always been my experience that Australians and Indonesians who take
the trouble to get to know each other get on very well indeed, irrespective
of the vicissitudes of the political relationship between our two countries.
I wondered how it was back then when they would have known nothing at all
about each other and when Australia was a country which did its best to keep
‘coloured’ people out. This preoccupation led to my writing a
book entitled Refugees and Rebels: Indonesian Exiles in Wartime Australia.
Q: What are your hopes for Asian Studies in Australia?
A: When I first became interested in Indonesia all those years ago,
people used to ask me, ‘Why? Is it so you can say “Take me to
your leader?”’ The fear of ‘the other’, the fear of
invasion, were alive and well 40 years ago, and sadly, in many cases, still
are, along with fear of ‘all those Muslims’ and of course, terrorists.
The basis of all these fears is, I believe, fear of the unknown.
The key to establishing relationships with our Asian neighbours
is education. We need bold educational initiatives from government including
the training of well qualified teachers, able to teach Asian studies, including
languages, from primary school to tertiary level. My hope for the future would
be that Australians were encouraged and given the opportunity to become Asia
literate, so that any fears they had could be put into a perspective based
on knowledge.
To find a copy of Eyewitness, try http://www.biblioz.com/lp25763736936_1566.html
Student of the month
Jane Gibian, librarian, ESL teacher and
poet, talks about her experience trying to learn Vietnamese in Australia:
Given the large Vietnamese community in Australia, and the
cultural and economic possibilities arising from engaging with a country that
is opening up to the Western world, it is strange that there are few opportunities
to study the Vietnamese language in Australia.
I first started studying Vietnamese in Sydney about 10 years
ago, because I wanted to learn an Asian language. Initially I did a short
beginner’s course, then enrolled in a more intensive course at Randwick
TAFE. Our class group became close-knit and the majority of us continued into
the next level. After completing these courses, no higher levels of Vietnamese
were offered.
Some years later, I wanted to resume Vietnamese, so I found
a private teacher. At one stage I attended her Saturday school class for second-generation
Vietnamese children. I studied along with a class of welcoming eight-year-olds,
and helped correct their written work because my writing skills were better,
though their home-acquired speaking and listening skills easily eclipsed mine.
My first visit to Vietnam was on an Asialink Literature Residency
in 2002. I continued lessons in Hanoi with a university Vietnamese teacher,
including some study of Vietnamese poetry, and made good progress. When I
returned to Australia, my teacher became ill and was unable to continue teaching.
After visiting Vietnam again in early 2007 I was inspired to look for a Vietnamese
conversation partner. An overseas student responded to my sign on a uni notice
board, and we began irregular social meetings. This was fun but not like the
discipline of regular classes and homework.
Due to the non-existence of intermediate/advanced courses,
I recently contemplated giving up Vietnamese for good, and learning Mandarin
with my boyfriend. I’m envious of the sheer number and variety of Mandarin
courses offered in Sydney. But then I stumbled across a Vietnamese teacher
running small private classes. The teacher is excellent, though like all of
us she finds it difficult getting appropriate resources.
Although it’s been frustrating, I’m glad I chose
to study Vietnamese since, for reasons I do not understand, few other Australians
do. It’s a great shame that Vietnamese is not taught at a tertiary level
in any NSW university, and at few others Australia-wide.
Jane Gibian’s most recent collection of poetry is Ardent
(Giramondo, 2007). See http://www.giramondopublishing.com/
Website of the month
http://www.eaylf.com
The Europe Asia Young Leaders Forum is an annual forum that
brings together a diverse group of approximately 50 younger Europeans and
Asians of outstanding leadership quality in business, politics, academia,
and the media.
Recent publication of interest
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has recently published
its 42nd Strategic Insight paper, Asian military trends and their implications
for Australia, by Andrew Davies. The paper sees Australia's military capability
edge in the Asian region eroding, with Asian militaries expanding and acquiring
sophisticated capabilities. Davies examines the drivers of this trend and
looks at the implications for Australia. http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=176&pubtype=6
Did you know?
The National Library of Australia
(NLA) is inviting applications for the 2008-09 Japan
Study Grants program. These grants are open to postgraduates, honours
students, academic staff or independent researchers in Australia who wish
to use the Japanese or Japan-related collections of the National Library for
their research. They are intended to make the NLA’s Japanese collections
better known outside Canberra and be a source of practical support for researchers
requiring access to a large and accessible library collection on Japan. For
more details on the NLA’s Japanese collections visit http://www.nla.gov.au/asian/lang/jap.html
Grants are offered for periods of up to four weeks and support travel to Canberra
and living costs. At least four grants are awarded each year. For full details
visit the website at http://www.nla.gov.au/grants/jsg/
The closing date for applications is 30 September 2008.
Diary dates
TAISHO- CHIC: JAPANESE MODERNITY, NOSTALGIA AND DECADENCE
22 May to 3 August, Sydney. Featuring about 70 paintings, prints,
textile and decorative arts, the exhibition encapsulates the clash and embrace
of Western modernity and traditional Japan in this transitional period (the
greater Taisho- period 1910–1930). Art Gallery of New South Wales http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/coming/taisho_chic
PICTURE PARADISE - THE FIRST CENTURY OF ASIA-PACIFIC
PHOTOGRAPHY 1840s-1940s 11 July - 9 November, Canberra. This exhibition
is the first survey of the history of photography from India and Sri Lanka
through Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific to the west coast of North
America National Gallery of Australia Parkes Place, Parkes, Canberra. http://nla.gov.au/pict/photofestival.html
THE POLITICS OF ISLAM IN OUTER INDONESIA, 22-26 July,
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. This is the 5th International
Symposium sponsored by Jurnal Antropologi Indonesia. These symposia are now
among the world's largest gatherings of Indonesianists, primarily but not
exclusively anthropologists. For an overview of the conference theme see:
http://www.fisip.ui.ac.id/antropologi/index.php?option=com_content&ta
BEIJING – XANADU: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE,
26 July, Sydney, 2 August, Melbourne. The modern city of Beijing
occupies a site that dates back to Kublai Khan and centuries earlier. The
history and culture of Beijing reflect the city’s past glories as well
as some of the dark secrets of its rulers. This seminar in TAASA’s lecture
series on “Great Cities of Asia” will be presented in Sydney at
the Powerhouse Museum, and in conjunction with the National Gallery of Victoria
at the Clemenger BBDO Auditorium, NGV International in Melbourne. See the
Asian Arts Society of Australia AASA website http://www.taasa.org.au/index.php?itemID=3
THE INFLUENCE OF INDIAN DANCE - FROM CLASSICAL TO
BOLLYWOOD, FROM EAST TO WEST 30 July, Melbourne. In an illustrated
talk, Dr Sunil Kothari, Visiting Professor for Dance, School of Arts and Aesthetics,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, will trace the developments of contemporary
expressions of Indian dance in Bollywood and in western dance forms from its
roots within Indian classical dance. 12.30pm to 2pm, Federation Hall, VCA,
Grant St, Southbank. To reserve a seat, please send an email to Asialink Events
at http://www.taasa.org.au/index.php?itemID=3
with "Indian Dance" in the subject line.
“THE ELEPHANT, THE TIGER & THE CELL PHONE
– REFLECTIONS ON THE ONGOING TRANSFORMATION OF INDIA”, 30 July,
Melbourne. Indian statesman, author and columnist, Dr Shashi Tharoor,
will talk to Geraldine Doogue about his latest book, which looks at India
as the emerging 21st century power. 6.30pm, Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Basement,
Sidney Myer Asia Centre, The University of Melbourne, RSVP: email events@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
with “Tharoor” in the subject line.
KWARTET PUNAKAWAN: INDONESIA PUSAKA at Sydney Opera
House 10 August. Celebrated pianist Jaya Suprana will escort Sydney
audiences on a rich musical journey through the Indonesian archipelago. Joined
by guitarist Jubing Kristanto, percussionist Junaedi Musliman and bass player
Heru Kusnadi, Kwartet Punakawan specialises in the timeless sufi music of
Indonesia, presented with a very contemporary style. Part concert, part lecture,
Indonesia Pusaka introduces the music from some 120 ethnic groups in a magnificent
tribute to this diverse country. 7pm Adults: $35 Concessions: $25 http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/kwartetpunakawanindonesianpusaka.aspx
BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES, 8-24 August 2008 http://en.beijing2008.cn/
ANCIENT CHINESE PORCELAIN: global exporting, China-West interaction,
antique collection, and authentication, 27 August, Sydney. This talk
by Baoping Li introduces the archaeological and art-historical significance
of Chinese porcelains. Baoping works at the University of Queensland, where
his research focuses on the history of Chinese porcelains and their interaction
with other ceramic traditions such as Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Middle
East. 5.15 pm – 7pm at Mills Lecture Room 209, R.C. Mills Building,
Fisher Road, University of Sydney http://db.auth.usyd.edu.au/directories/map/building.stm?ref=H15L22
INDONESIA UPDATE 2008, 19-20 September, Canberra.
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state. More than half its share
of the earth's surface is sea, and the marine frontier presents Indonesia
with economic opportunity and political and strategic challenges. This conference
examines Indonesia's response to that challenge. Presentations will address
maritime boundaries and security, marine safety, inter-island shipping, the
development of the archipelagic concept in international law, marine conservation,
Indonesian sea-farers, illegal fishing, and the place of the sea in national
and regional identity. See http://rspas.anu.edu.au/economics/ip/IU08
TRANSITION AND INTERCHANGE Ninth Women in Asia Conference,
29 September-1 October 2008, Brisbane. The University of Queensland
is hosting the ninth Women in Asia (WIA) Conference, to be held from 29 September-1
October, 2008. Call for Papers: Contributions are invited from various disciplines
on a large number of themes concerning the lives of women in Asia. Participants
are encouraged to submit proposals for panels (with 3-4 papers per panel).
Individual proposals are also welcome. See http://www.freewebs.com/womeninasia
ARTSingapore, 9-13 October 2008, Singapore.
This contemporary visual art fair is both a trade and consumer fair, and thus
a platform for art dealers and galleries to network and foster business relationships,
and for art collectors to acquire new works http://www.artsingapore.net/index-as.html
VIETNAM UPDATE 2008, Labour in Vietnam, 6-7 November
2008, ANU, Canberra. The 2008 Vietnam Update takes up the timely
issue of labour in Vietnam. It will explore the theme of labour broadly, including
Vietnam's position in regional labour markets; the socialist legacy in the
globalised workplace; everyday working conditions and experiences; the regulatory
framework; the changing industrial relations system; the politics of labour;
the protection of labour rights; and the internationalisation of labour standards.
Convenor: Anita Chan, Contemporary China Centre, Research School of Pacific
and Asian Studies, The Australian National University: anita.chan@anu.edu.au
GLOBALISING RELIGIONS AND CULTURES IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC,
1-5 December 2008, Adelaide. This conference is the 2008 Signature
Event for the Asia-Pacific Futures Research Network. With religion and culture
as the key themes, the conference covers areas central to understanding the
current state, diffusion and evolution of religious beliefs in the Asia-Pacific
as well as their cultural and other consequences. In addition to its academic
conference, the Event features three major public forums, link-ups with Australian
media, side events and tours. The culminating event, the conference banquet,
will be held under the direction of one of Australia’s most famous chefs,
Simon Bryant. If you wish to attend, give a paper, organise a panel or know
more, please feel free to contact the organisers at the University of Adelaide
via email at: sigevent08@adelaide.edu.au
or go to at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/sigevent08/
You are welcome to advertise Asia-related events in this
space. Send details to: fbeddie@infinite.net.au
Feedback
What would be useful for you? Human interest stories, profiles
of successful graduates of Asian studies, more news about what's on, moderated
discussions on topical issues? Send your ideas to fbeddie@infinite.net.au.
About the ASAA
The Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) promotes
the study of Asian languages, societies, cultures, and politics in Australia,
supports teaching and research in Asian studies and works towards an understanding
of Asia in the community at large. It publishes the Asian Studies Review
journal and holds a biennial conference. ASAA and the Centre for Language
Studies at National University of Singapore also co-publish an annual supplementary
issue of the Centre's fully peer-reviewed electronic Foreign Language Teaching
Journal (e-FLT). See http://e-flt.nus.edu.sg
The ASAA believes there is an urgent need to develop a strategy to preserve,
renew and extend Australian expertise about Asia. It has called on the government
to show national leadership in the promotion of Australia’s Asia knowledge
and skills. See Maximizing Australia's Asia Knowledge Repositioning and
Renewal of a National Asset http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/asia-knowledge-book-v70.pdf
Asian Currents is published by the
Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA). It is edited by Francesca Beddie.
The editorial board consists of Robert Cribb, ASAA President; Michele Ford,
ASAA Secretary; Mina Roces, ASAA Publications officer; and Lenore Lyons, ASAA
Council member.
