About the Program

Introduction and Background

Australia Awards are prestigious, transformational scholarships and short courses offered to emerging leaders from developing countries for study, research and professional development in Australia and the region so they can return home and contribute to their nations’ development, prosperity, and resilience.

The scholarships have been an important component of the Australian Government’s overseas aid program since the Colombo Plan in the 1950s.

Australia Awards in Indonesia (AAI) aims to support Indonesia in achieving its development goals through education and knowledge transfer and to build an enduring relationship between Indonesia and Australia that advances mutual interest.

More specifically, the Split-Site Masters Program (SSMP) seeks to:

Provide relevant and flexible study programs to Indonesian Government Organisations (IGOs).
Improve efficiency and effectiveness in a scholarship scheme.
Enhance engagement between Australia and Indonesian Government Organisations.

Rationale

SSMP is responsive to the development objectives of the participating IGOs.

The IGOs will be able to choose the universities delivering tailored study programs in accordance with their human resources development plan. In addition, substantial efficiency in funding is attained as each party covers partial expenses, which allows organisations to reinvest the budget to a bigger pool of scholarship recipients.

Program Details

SSMP involves at least 12 months of study at an   Indonesian university, followed by 12 months of study at an Australian university, leading to the awarding of two  master’s degrees in one related field of study. The successful graduates will hold two master’s degrees from two reputable universities.

In delivering SSMP, the Australian Government bears the cost for the Australia study component, whereas the IGO funds the  Indonesia study component.

Another key advantage of SSMP is that partnering Indonesian and Australian universities selected to deliver the program can exchange  knowledge through joint research supervision and curriculum development. This can further enhance the international reputation of Indonesian universities.

Stakeholders

• Funding Donors: Australian Government and Indonesian Government Organisations
• Implementers: Australian universities and Indonesian universities
• Managing Contractor: Australia Awards in Indonesia under Tetra Tech International Development
• Monitoring Bodies: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of State Secretariat, Republic of Indonesia.

Funding

The in-Australia component of the SSMP is funded by the Australian Government through AAI. Prior to the study in Australia, AAI will also bear the costs of a Joint-Selection Team (JST) to select the scholars for the scholarship, pre-departure training for the scholars, and mobilisation to  Australia.

The IGOs will use their budget to fund the master’s program in Indonesia, the required  promotions, any supplementary English training, and internal selection processes. In the case of approved participants failing to continue their studies in Australia (due to academic or personal circumstances), the IGO will continue funding those participants to complete their degree in Indonesia.

Eligibility Criteria

To take part in the SSMP, the IGOs should meet the following criteria:

• Be an organisation under one of the ministries, or regional governments.
• Have sufficient funding to support the in-Indonesia study component.
• Identify human resources development needs that are aligned with the national and/or regional development plan.
• Have sufficient managerial capacity to deliver a scholarship program and well-articulated plans to  reintegrate returning scholars to the  organisations and/or region.
• Be successful in their Expression of Interest submission for SSMP.

For candidates of the scholarship, the  following criteria must be met:

• Be nominated by the participating IGOs.
• Meet the general requirements of Australia Awards (e.g., selected by Joint Selection Team, obtain Australian student visa, and support from the Government of Indonesia)
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.9 in their undergraduate studies. Meet the minimum English competence score, i.e., IELTS 6.0, Paper-based TOEFL 552, iBT 80, or PTE 56.
• Satisfy the entry requirements of the participating Indonesian university.
• Fulfill the conditions for transfer to the participating Australian university at the end of the first year of study in Indonesia (e.g., GPA, IELTS, and research topic).

Indonesian universities delivering the program must fulfill the following requirements:

• Have a Memorandum of Understanding and Double Degree Agreement with an Australian university.
• Provide English as the medium of teaching and learning for the selected master’s   program.
• Have a curriculum that has been negotiated and approved by the  partnering Australian university.
• Ensure the master’s program is registered at Kemenristekdikti.

Selection Process

A short list of candidates is firstly selected by the IGOs, using criteria such as  GPA, English competency score, and state apparatus policy. This list  is then submitted to AAI.

AAI will arrange a selection process following the Australian Government standards: an interview by the JST and an IELTS test. The Team consists of Australian and Indonesian academics.

Monitoring And Evaluation

SSMP is closely monitored both in Indonesia and Australia. AAI will monitor the academic progress from Indonesian universities each semester. Scholars’ academic progress in Australia is monitored through an online system called OASIS (Online Australia Awards Scholarships Information System). At the completion of each cohort cycle, AAI will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of SSMP.