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Government backs new Indonesian language project
The Federal Government has backed a joint effort by the University of the Sunshine Coast and three other Australian universities to develop improved Indonesian language programs to the tune of $369,000.
This Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund (CASR) grant from the Department of Education, Science and Training was awarded to the University of New England and its joint partners USC, Charles Darwin University and the University of Tasmania in late December.
The consortium will use these funds – along with a $22,000 DASSH (Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities) grant awarded recently – to devise online language courses using diverse multimedia and real-time audio-conferencing.
The Regional Universities Indonesian Language project also will share across institutions new on-campus and in-country programs from first year to fourth year level.
USC lecturer Dr Phillip Mahnken, an expert in computer-assisted language learning, will lead a team of specialists from the four universities in developing the project over the next two years.
Dr Mahnken is currently in Indonesia overseeing an existing in-country language program. He said he was delighted the Federal Government had backed the project which offered clear benefits for Australia’s economic and security interests.
“Teachers of Indonesian maintain that when our nearest Asian neighbour is in such trouble, the smart policy for Australian security is to know all we can about the place and the people,’’ he said.
“The welfare of our children depends on the welfare of those who may be a potential future threat. Helping Indonesia towards democracy, good governance, prosperity and health is in our own best interests.”
Dr Mahnken’s team includes UTAS literature specialist Pam Allen and Indonesian performing arts and women’s issues expert Professor Barbara Hatley, UNE Indonesian political analyst Dr Steve Miller and CDU sociologist Dr Richard Curtis.
Language teaching staff at the University of Mataram in Lombok, Indonesia, also will contribute to the in-country curriculum, while a national reference group from universities across Australia are set to offer critical review and input.
“This project will update and revitalise Indonesian language teaching and learning,’’ Dr Mahnken said.
“This collaboration between four regional universities, with input from our friends all over Australia and overseas, will combine our various strengths, give students much wider experiences and promote Indonesian learning.”
Minister for Education, Science and Training Julie Bishop in December approved more than $8million in CASR funding for this project and 12 other new projects – ranging from engineering and mining to environmental science and nursing – in Australian universities.
She said the projects would promote structural reform in higher education and encourage stronger links between universities and industry, business and the local community and other education and training providers.