UNDIP, Germany (March 30) – Just 24 hours after landing in Germany, Anggun Puspitarini Siswanto, S.T., Ph.D, had the opportunity to experience the spirit of Eid al-Fitr 1446 H in one of Germany’s beautiful cities—Aachen. It was Anggun’s first time celebrating Eid in Aachen, coinciding with her fellowship program at RWTH Aachen University, a prestigious German institution and the alma mater of Indonesia’s second president, B.J. Habibie.
On the morning of March 30, 2025, she joined the Eid prayer at Bendplatz, a field near Aachen’s city park and not far from the campus. A light drizzle accompanied the prayer, which began at 9:00 AM local time. A sense of emotion swept over her as she realized how fortunate she was to celebrate Eid joyfully on the European continent.
Anggun, Ph.D, a lecturer in the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology Program at the Vocational School of Universitas Diponegoro, traveled to Germany for her fellowship at RWTH Aachen. She received funding through the Theodore von Kármán Fellowship from RWTH Aachen University for the program running from March 28 to April 12, 2025.
The fellowship is part of a broader initiative to enhance cooperation between the Indonesian and German governments, particularly in scholarship programs for young Indonesian lecturers. This collaboration stems from the Circular Economy Scholarship Programme (CESP) launched in 2024— a doctoral scholarship initiative for lecturers from three Indonesian state universities (ITB, UNDIP, and UGM). The program is a joint effort between RWTH Aachen, the Indonesian Embassy in Germany, and the Directorate General of Higher Education of the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Arief Havas Oegroseno and RWTH Aachen Rector Prof. Ulrich Rüdiger attended the MoU signing.
From this initiative, Anggun Puspitarini Siswanto, S.T., Ph.D (UNDIP) was appointed as Country Coordinator, alongside Anis Apriliawati, S.S., M.Sc. (DIKTI). As a result, two UNDIP lecturers—Denis (Faculty of Engineering) and Rizka Amalia (Vocational School)—have become CESP 2024 awardees. They are currently pursuing their doctoral studies at the Institute of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) and the Thermoprocesses and Emission Control in Waste Management and Recycling Teaching and Research Unit (TEER), respectively.
In response to this initiative, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., Rector of UNDIP, expressed full support, stating that it not only boosts educational capacity through doctoral studies but also enhances professional competencies through fellowship activities. “This program will have a positive impact in many areas, including employer recognition. It will also improve several performance indicators of our study programs,” he added.
During her fellowship, Anggun engaged in several activities, including intensive coordination with various stakeholders involved in the scholarship program. She was also scheduled to deliver a lecture on Circular Economy to RWTH Aachen’s academic community on Friday, April 4, 2025.
The program aims to generate outcomes in the form of institutional partnerships between universities and to ensure the success of the scholarship initiative—eventually leading to the establishment of a Circular Economy Centre in Indonesia once the CESP recipients complete their doctoral studies.
Although she couldn’t enjoy her usual homemade lontong opor in Indonesia, she now feels at home with a new family in Germany. While her colleagues in Indonesia are still enjoying the Eid holiday, Anggun will resume work at RWTH Aachen on Monday, March 31, 2025. For a Noble, Valuable, and Glorious UNDIP! (Anggun, Ed. NH)
