The visit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and KONEKSI and to three cities in Australia is an important milestone and initiative to foster collaboration and mutual understanding between KONEKSI and Australia’s research community. With a core focus on a shared understanding of KONEKSI and Australia’s research ecosystem, this visit underscored how international partnerships advance research and innovation and highlighted the shared commitment to knowledge sharing and collaboration, , as well as enhancing people-to-people links and cultural understanding between the two countries.
Indonesia Council Open Conference (ICOC) 2023
The visit coincided with the ICOC 2023, hosted by the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre at the University of Sydney and Humanitarian and Development Studies at Western Sydney University. This prestigious event convened academics and postgraduate researchers with a profound interest in Indonesia, creating a platform for engagement with cutting-edge research. The theme, “Indonesia 25 Years On,” explored Indonesia’s transformation since former President Suharto stepped down in 1998.
Head of the DFAT Knowledge-to-Policy (K2P) Unit, Ria Arief and KONEKSI Head of Technical Delivery, Partnerships, and GEDSI, Dr. Angie Bexley, and were active participants in the Conference. Their presence contributed to engaging discussions with multidisciplinary researchers on the role of KONEKSI in promoting research collaboration between Indonesia and Australia. Ria Arief presented insights from her MPA research on policy entrepreneurs, sparking meaningful dialogue among academics from various fields on ways to engage with KONEKSI. Both presentations have triggered common agenda around opportunities to increase knowledge and capabilities between the two countries through research and innovation.
During the conference, DFAT and KONEKSI met with several recipients of KONEKSI’s first round of collaborative research grants on climate change and the environment, many of whom were in the process of planning kick-off meetings in Indonesia. The interactions highlighted the depth of their commitment to research partnerships, as well as the intensive preparations underway. The presentation by KONEKSI attracted significant attention and triggered thoughtful engagement.
Situating KONEKSI at the forefront of Australia’s new International Development Policies
In Canberra, DFAT and KONEKSI visited DFAT Headquarters and met with DFAT Indonesia Branch and the Gender Equity Branch. The team provided an overview of KONEKSI and how it is situated within the new Australia’s International Development Policies such as strong element of partnership, locally led development, as well as GEDSI as a significant objective of the program.
Accelerating partnership in GEDSI between Australian and Indonesian institutions
In Sydney, DFAT and KONEKSI had a productive meeting with Dr. Janin Bredehoeft, CEO of Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), to discuss Australia’s challenges and opportunities for promoting gender equality and diversity in the research sector. One of the explored issues was the ecosystem required to support cultural change, including how grant mechanisms can incentivise researchers to prioritise gender equality and diversity. The meeting concluded with potential areas for collaboration between SAGE and KONEKSI particularly around promoting women leadership in research and STEM.
Deepening Government to Government (G2G) partnership and building research and scientific engagement
Promoting international collaboration was at the forefront of the agenda when DFAT and KONEKSI met with Government representatives. The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), KONEKSI supporting partner brought together DISR, the Australian Research Council, Department of Education and CSIRO for a series of discussions on the challenges and opportunities for collaboration with KONEKSI on the G2G agenda around knowledge sharing and increasing Australia’s capacity to engage with Indonesia. The roundtable on innovation and lessons from Australia revealed many commonalities as well as differences with Indonesia. There are many intersections for the two countries to promote collaboration to achieve greater innovation outcomes.
Engagement with Universities Australia, Australia Learned Academies, the Australia Academy of Science, and the Regional Universities Network was another significant facet of DFAT and KONEKSI’s visit. Universities Australia and the Regional Universities Network shared experiences of the common challenges of the distance shared between Australia and Indonesia and their common interest in sharing information with all universities to ensure equality of access to opportunities. Many opportunities were identified for KONEKSI to work with these organisations to ensure that research organisations have access to grant opportunities and opportunities to partners with Indonesian organisations to produce knowledge and evidence to influence policy and industry.
In relation to KONEKSI’s first collaborative research grant theme focused on the environment and climate change, ACOLA facilitated a meeting between DFAT and KONEKSI with Dr. Simon Marsland, Head of the National Environmental Science Program (NESP). NESP is a collaborative initiative comprising Australia’s foremost climate change research and decision-making entities, including universities, state governments, and business organisations. During this meeting, they discussed the importance of stakeholder engagement in research design and KONEKSI’s innovative approach to partnerships and GEDSI.
KONEKSI Grantees in the spotlight
KONEKSI made valuable visit to engage with Australian-based research grantees. These discussions included a meeting with grantees affiliated with the Australian National University (ANU), facilitated by the Indonesia Institute. DFAT Branch members were in attendance and expressed the Branch’s keen interest in and support for KONEKSI. They are interested in the focus on partnerships and GEDSI, which is seen as innovative and new for Official Development Assistance. This is especially relevant in the context of Australia’s New International Development Policy, where KONEKSI aspires to be role model and concrete example of partnerships.
During the discussion, Professor James Fox, Emeritus Professor, State, Society and Governance, College of Asia and the Pacific, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, ANU lauded the KONEKSI team for their swift yet methodically rigorous implementation of pilot grants and for their advocacy to increase the grant ceiling. Additionally, Grantees expressed appreciation for the emphasis placed on partnerships.
Concluding the visit to Australia, DFAT and KONEKSI were hosted by the University of Melbourne Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Vedi Hadiz, at the Sidney Myer Institute. KONEKSI grantees gathered for a roundtable discussion, where they exchanged valuable insights on their progress. Grantees shared experiences and challenges related to partnerships, cultural differences, and the challenges of navigating university procedures.
In the forum, Professor Hadiz emphasised that KONEKSI represents a deliberate choice to engage individuals, with the expectation that through their partnerships, these individuals will be exposed to alternative research approaches. The goal is to foster coalitions that can work together to enhance conditions within their respective institutions. Dr. Angie Bexley, as a KONEKSI representative, explained that KONEKSI serves as a catalyst for enduring partnerships. Over the long term, KONEKSI will produce evidence based on the types of partnerships and knowledge that can be produced.
KONEKSI grantees expressed their appreciation for the plan to assist them to work in partnership, and appreciated the initial session provided by KONEKSI. Grantees raised importance issue around the necessity of establishing a common language around partnerships and the need for guidance through the partnership-building process, given the remarkable diversity of partnerships. It was acknowledged and commended that KONEKSI is dedicating trainings sessions to assist all partners to develop their expertise on the art of collaborative research partnerships.
The KONEKSI-DFAT visit to Australia provided a platform for in-depth discussions, the exchange of knowledge, and the establishment of collaborative efforts. The visit reinforced the commitment to building a shared understanding of KONEKSI and Australia’s research ecosystem, emphasising the importance of partnerships, equity and inclusivity in research endeavours. As KONEKSI progresses its agenda, these interactions will play a crucial role in shaping Australian-Indonesian research partnerships towards mutual understanding.