Opinion | Can Chinese students learning Indonesian help bridge cultural gap, boost bilateral ties?
- Interest in studying Indonesian has grown over the years, with at least 16 Chinese universities offering related modules and exchange programmes in Indonesia
- Research shows there is high demand in the labour market for graduates fluent in Indonesian, as they take up posts in government and private sectors
Education ties between the two countries began in 1949, when Peking University organised an Indonesian language department for the first time in mainland China. In 1960, Beijing Foreign Studies University – known for producing some of China’s best diplomats – co-founded an Indonesian language undergraduate programme, with Guangdong University of Foreign Studies starting a similar department in 1970.
Graduates of Indonesian language studies from these three universities have thrived in various fields, such as in translation, diplomacy and academia.
Over the last five years, Indonesian language graduates found jobs in government and private sectors, such as at China’s education and foreign affairs ministries. State-owned media such as China Radio International and Xinhua News Agency also often open vacancies for Indonesian language graduates.
Since 1949, enthusiasm in studying Indonesian has grown, with at least 16 Chinese universities as of 2019 offering related programmes for students of various academic levels. Research by Hendy Yuniarto, a lecturer at Beijing Foreign Studies University, indicates the number continues to increase.
The large number of Chinese students interested in majoring in Indonesian shows that this group can help boost cooperation between Indonesia and China, especially in education.
