After graduating from Flinders University in 2016, Ajik Purnomoputro (MPubAdmin(Pol) ’16) returned to his homeland of Indonesia to apply the education he had gained through an amazing opportunity of study assistance – the Australia Awards Scholarship.
These awards are highly sought after overseas, as the living allowance is considered sufficient for recipients to truly focus on their studies. Ajik reaped the benefits of learning and is now back at Flinders again to complete his PhD, with the hope of making further impact on the bonds and investment issues faced by everyday Indonesians.
“Professionally, my degree gave me a competitive advantage over other employees for managerial positions in the Ministry of Finance, which resulted in my promotion to Head of Section, Debt Market Development,” says Ajik.
“In that position, I was required to develop the bond market in Indonesia, which at that time was still far behind some of its peers. Some of the courses I took at Flinders really helped me to find the source of the problem, provide alternative solutions and implement solutions that are acceptable to all parties.
“The network that I built when studying at Flinders was also another gift for me as Flinders alumni are in almost every institution, which facilitates me to coordinate through agencies.
“Personally, living in a multicultural Adelaide society as a minority changed my perspective on how we have to respect others and I thank Flinders so much for that.”
Ajik’s dream of undertaking a PhD became a reality this year. Already having experienced the learning environment, the city of Adelaide and his supervisor’s academic expectations, it was an easy decision about where he would choose to return to study after being awarded his second Australia Awards Scholarship.
“I immediately decided to return to Flinders, even though I had to go through the Graduate Diploma of Research Methods as a pathway to my PhD,” says Ajik.
“My research during my PhD is related to the phenomenon in Indonesia where individual investors in sovereign bonds are far behind investors in stocks and mutual funds.
“In addition, Indonesia is also rife with investment scams. This makes me want to examine the influence of financial literacy and Indonesian culture of collectivism in the small number of government bond investors.”
Once Ajik returns to Indonesia, the results of his research findings are expected to create a government bond scheme that is in line with public demand, so that the investor base of government bonds can increase.
Ajik also plans to return to teaching at Polytechnic of State Finance STAN (PKN STAN), located in Banten, Indonesia. He has adopted and applied an egalitarian relationship between lecturing and his students, making the class as supportive as possible for student development.
“My favourite thing about Flinders is the supportive environment. Everyone wants us to succeed and we get full support from the campus for that.”
AJIK PURNOMOPUTRO
“Sitting beside the plaza, looking at the beach in the distance, while eating spicy noodle soup is always a favourite moment. Even better after finishing and submitting our assignments!”
Australia Awards at Flinders
More than 1100 Australia Awards scholars from more than 45 countries have graduated from Flinders University in the past 10 years. Administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia Awards are prestigious, transformational scholarships and short courses offered to emerging leaders from developing countries for study, research and professional development in Australia and the region so they can return home and contribute to their nations’ development, prosperity and resilience.