OzMate posted on November 25, 2009 05:07
The Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program (MEP) began in 2002 with the aim of building links between Muslim communities in both nations and promoting greater understanding and recognition of religion and its role in each society.
Funded by the Australian Government and run through the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII), it was decided in 2005 to establish this program as one of the AII’s flagship programs. Since June 2009, 27 Australians and 82 Indonesians have participated in the program.
The program involves visits of several weeks duration to Australia by groups of young Indonesian Muslim community leaders (such as writers, bureaucrats, academics, workers in non-governmental organisations and religious bodies), and visits to Indonesia by their Australian counterparts. The focus is on building a greater understanding for Australians of the nature of mainstream Islam in Indonesia and, for Indonesians, a greater awareness of Australia’s multicultural society.
Candidates are interviewed and selected by an independent selection panel based on their extensive networks and capacity to act as ambassadors in interfaith dialogue.
Requirements for Indonesian participants:
1. Applicants (male/female) must be under 40 years of age.
2. Demonstrated fluency in English through TOEFL (international or institutional standard) with minimum score of 450.
3. Completion of the Application Form (available on both Paramadina University www.paramadina.ac.id / and Australian Embassy’s websites www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au)
Applications must be lodged by Friday 4 December at 16:00 WIB. Applications can be posted to Paramadina University, Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav.97, Mampang, Jakarta Selatan 12790 or emailed to panitiamep2010@paramadina.ac.id.
NOTE: Applications from Australian participants will be considered early next year. Further information for Australian participants will be available on the AII Website: www.dfat.gov.au/aii. Click the following link for more info: http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MEP2010.html