UNDIP, Semarang (February 20) – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) held an Australia Day celebration with the theme “G’day from #AussieBanget: A Celebration of Australia!” The event took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Diponegoro Muda Hall, Building D, 1st Floor, FISIP UNDIP Campus, Tembalang.
This event aimed to enhance understanding and appreciation of Australian culture and education while serving as a platform for academic collaboration between Indonesia and Australia.
The event was attended by the Dean of FISIP UNDIP, Dr. Drs. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin., faculty leadership, and distinguished guests such as the Australian Consul General in Surabaya, H.E. Glen Askew, Mr. Seluz Fahik (Australia Awards Scholarship/AAS Indonesia), and Nadia Sarah (University of Queensland Advisor for Southeast Asia).
In his speech, Dr. Teguh Yuwono reaffirmed FISIP UNDIP’s commitment to improving international-standard facilities and services. “We are going to provide our facility and services at the international level, and I’m referring to Australian universities,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with Australian universities to enhance educational quality at FISIP UNDIP.
During the Ambassadorial Lecture, H.E. Glen Askew presented various aspects of Australian culture and education, introducing the country’s education system, trade relations, and scholarship programs such as the Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS).
At the end of his presentation, Glen Askew engaged participants in an interactive game, challenging them to guess the meanings of unique Australian slang terms, followed by a lively Q&A session.
FISIP UNDIP itself has 11 faculty members who are Australian alumni, having completed their master’s or doctoral studies there, including Dr. Teguh Yuwono, who is an alumnus of Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. “Many UNDIP lecturers are Australian graduates, which is great for encouraging students to pursue further studies in Australia,” said Glen Askew.
Meanwhile, the event coordinator, Bangkit A. Wiryawan, S.Sos., M.A., Ph.D., mentioned that this event had been planned since last year to inspire UNDIP graduates to study in Australia. “We hope that by studying there, they can introduce UNDIP to Australian students, which could eventually open opportunities for UNDIP, including FISIP, to welcome exchange students from Australia in the future,” he added.
The event also featured engaging activities such as the Study Info in Australia session, hosted by the University of Queensland (UQ), and the Australia Awards Scholarship Expo. These sessions provided participants with comprehensive information about studying in Australia and first-hand cultural experiences through games and interactions.
The Australia Day celebration at FISIP UNDIP was not only an occasion to appreciate Australian culture but also a strategic platform to strengthen academic and cultural ties between Indonesia and Australia. The event is expected to open doors for broader collaboration and motivate FISIP UNDIP students to pursue global achievements.
Beyond the main activities, the event was also enlivened by Kopi Kenangan booths and exciting games for FISIP UNDIP students. (FISIP, ed. NH)
