Foreign intellectuals and researchers who have an interest and expertise in Indonesian affairs can play a crucial role in shaping the future of the country particularly by strengthening human capital development, a senior official has said.

The foreign intellectuals and researchers, widely known as Indonesianists, now have the chance to explore the transformation process in the world’s third-largest democracy, according to Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir.

“You have the opportunity to explore the major transformation of development [in Indonesia], including in politics, the economy, socioculture, science and the environment,” he told the audience during the opening of the 2019 World Indonesianist Congress at Yogyakarta State University (UNY) in Yogyakarta on Monday night.

In his speech, Fachir also highlighted the importance of their contribution to strengthening Indonesia’s human capital in the future.

Running until Thursday, the congress titled “Building a Better Future of Indonesia: Toward a Tolerant, Vibrant and Creative Society” presents noted experts on Indonesian affairs such as Michael Vatikiotis, Karel A. Steenbrink and Philip Buckley.

The congress offers four discussion panels on strengthening democracy, promoting a harmonious community in Indonesia, stimulating and crafting creativity in the era of Industry 4.0 and preserving and promoting Indonesian culture in the face of globalization.

Approximately 400 foreign university students from 43 countries who are currently studying in various universities across Indonesia have joined the congress, the first of its kind, which is organized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Policy Development and Assessment Body in cooperation with UNY, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta.

Fachir said Indonesianists could contribute in at least three aspects, namely strengthening the identity of Indonesia as a multicultural country, strengthening human resources and contributing to Indonesia’s economic transformation process.

The deputy minister said Indonesianists from the first to the third generations had focused more on postcolonial, nation-building and reform-related problems while the present fourth generation of Indonesianists was still looking for a focus.

Fachir suggested that Indonesianists could do research on Indonesia’s human resources. In the economic aspect he asked them to help think about the process of the shifting from a resource-based to a knowledge and innovation-based economy.

“The government is also improving the ICT [information and communication technology] infrastructure to facilitate a creative, digital-based economy,” he said.

UNY’s partnership and international office head Adi Cilik Pierewan expressed hope that the participating foreign students would be even more interested in Indonesia and in working in Indonesia after taking part in the congress.

“When they conduct research, their perspectives as foreigners can be an interesting contribution to Indonesia,” Adi said, adding that the congress also presented various performances such as the Sendratari Ramayana opera dance.

Musa Saidi of Tanzania who is currently studying in UNY’s postgraduate program said the congress improved his academic knowledge and experience. “This is interesting because we can learn about intercultural tolerance here.”

Anna Lewandowska of Poland who is currently studying batik at ISI Yogyakarta expressed the same happiness about the congress, which gave her the opportunity to perform at the opening ceremony. She played traditional gamelan music to accompany a Javanese traditional dance performed by foreign students.

“It was really nice to perform,” she said.