The Australia – Indonesia Center (AIC) which is a forum for academic cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, launched the Partnership for Australia – Indonesia Research (PAIR). This program is designed to be a forum for collaboration between Indonesian and Australian researchers in dealing various development issues.
The PAIR program was officially launched on Monday (11/18) at Baruga Pattingaloang, the Governor's Office of South Sulawesi. In this launching, the Governor of South Sulawesi (Prof. Dr. Ir. Nurdin Abdullah, M.Agr), Australian Ambassador to Indonesia (H.E. Gary Quinlan AO), Chief Excecutive Office The AIC (Eugene Sebastian), some Regents and Mayor of Makassar, Deans of Faculties and School, Researchers, University Partners, and other invited guests.
In his remarks, CEO of The AIC, Eugene Sebastian, explained that PAIR is one of the initiatives to follow up on a comprehensive partnership between Indonesia and Australia that had been agreed by the governments of the two countries since 2013. Compared to other programs, PAIR has several uniquenesses.
"This is a different big concept, prepared for 6 years since 2013. We want to solve the problems of the two countries collaboratively, and also want to contribute to change for global problems. The problems of infrastructure, health, food and others are global problems," said Sebastian.
In addition, Sebastian said, AIC also prepared a unique concept, which focused on investment relations between the two countries. There are 51 researchers in PAIR from 11 leading universities in both countries.
Seven Indonesian Universities and Institutions:
1. Universitas Hasanuddin,
2. Universitas Airlangga,
3. Universitas Gadjah Mada,
4. Universitas Indonesia,
5. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November,
6. Institut Teknologi Bandung,
7. Institut Pertanian Bogor.
Four Australian Universities:
1. The University of Melbourne,
2. Monash University
3. The University of Queensland
4. The University Western Australia
Sebastian explained that over the next four years, it is targeted that there will be 500 researchers involved, with a composition of 60% from the fields of science and 40% from the humanities.
"The interesting thing about this program is that the researchers involved in our collaboration consist of 70% of researchers who have never collaborated with each other or collaborated internationally. Of course, this will enrich the experience of each researcher,” explained Sebastian.
Meanwhile, the Governor of South Sulawesi expressed his appreciation and respect for entrusting South Sulawesi, specifically the City of Makassar as the location to start this program. He was committed from the beginning to make universities and research the basis of every policy.
"I believe, this cooperation with Australia will be a momentum of mutual benefit for both parties. We each have advantages, if the two are combined, it is not only our problems that we can solve, even global problems can also be overcome,” said Nurdin Abdullah.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Gary Quinlan AO, in his remarks also gave appreciation for the efforts of various parties so that this collaboration could be carried out. Makassar is an important area for Australia, which is why the Consulate General was established in this city.
"We have a long history. More than 400 years ago, the first Indonesian arrivals to Australia were from Makassar, namely fishermen looking for sea cucumbers. This historical relationship becomes the foundation for us to carry out collaboration,“ said Ambassador Quinlan.
On a separate occasion, the Director of Communication at Hasanuddin University, Suharman Hamzah, Ph.D said that the involvement of Universitas Hasanuddin in the PAIR program was positive. Apart from the fact that Unhas' position was in Makassar, Unhas was also has been involved in the AIC for a long time.
"Unhas Rector, Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA, is a member of the board of the Australian Indonesian Center Board who initiated this program. Especially in this PAIR there are a lot of Unhas experts involved since the beginning,” said Suharman.
PAIR Research Coordinator, Dr. Nana Saleh, explained that over the next four years, researchers will explore the West Coast region of South Sulawesi, where the 145-kilometer New Train Track will immediately connect five cities and districts, which are Makassar, Maros, Pangkajene Islands, Barru and Parepare.
"Eleven Senior Fellows who is leading this research will have an intensive one-week meeting with stakeholders from government, business, academia and community groups to gain a deep understanding of South Sulawesi and the expected impacts and opportunities of railroad development,” said Nana Saleh.
The launching event was marked by the drum beating by the Governor of South Sulawesi and the Australian Ambassador. After the program ended at 10:00, PAIR senior researchers then headed to the Tamalanrea Unhas Campus to hold a meeting discussing a research meeting in South Sulawesi. (*)
