US, RI to advance higher education, fight climate change

The United States and Indonesia have agreed on cooperation in the fields of education and environment as part of a comprehensive partnership that will be launched in Jakarta later this year.

In its press statement released on Sunday, the White House said the US will invest US$165 million over five years in programs facilitating the vital exchange of leadership and management experience, scientific and technical expertise, and cultural understanding between Americans and Indonesians.

The support will include expansion of exchange programs, including Fulbright, the Community College Initiative, the launch of a major five-year effort to improve the quality of higher education in Indonesia through a University Partnership program and the visit of Indonesian education minister for a US-Indonesia Higher Education Summit next summer.

President Barack Obama also committed $136 million over three years in an array of programs toward Environment and Climate Change cooperation, which include the $119 million SOLUSI (Science, Oceans, Land Use, Society and Innovation) partnership, which represents the major areas of environment and climate engagement, and the US support for Indonesia’s bid to establish a Climate Change Center that will work closely with national, regional, and local stakeholders in and out of government.

The US will provide $7 million in support for the Center and $10 million for associated projects and partnerships, including public-private partnerships focused on addressing climate-related challenges in Indonesia.

President Obama and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will launch the comprehensive partnership during Obama’s visit to Jakarta, which is scheduled for November.