The international reach and influence of Flinders University is clearly illustrated in the achievements of several Australia Awards Scholarship recipients who are now leaders within the Indonesian government.
Ibu Rini Widyantini (MPubMgmt ’99) is the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform of the Republic of Indonesia – and one of three members of the current Indonesian government cabinet who studied at Flinders University.
She came to Adelaide to study a Master of Public Management at Flinders University in 1998, having obtained her Australia Awards Scholarship through a highly competitive process that involved more than 3000 other applicants from Indonesia’s civil service.
Born in Bandung, West Java, she had previously earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Padjadjaran University in Indonesia. After obtaining her scholarship, Rini investigated several different university offerings but was particularly impressed by Flinders University’s strong academic reputation in public management.
“Flinders stood out for its excellence in the areas of governance and public services innovation, and this was directly tied to my work in government at that time,” says Rini.
“Studying abroad was my dream, because I needed to obtain global knowledge and meet people from other countries if I was going to advance my work in government. I wanted to learn by making comparisons.”
Rini was inspired by Professor Bruce Guerin, who was Director of the Flinders Institute of Public Policy and Management from 1993 to 2003. She was particularly impressed by his previous work in South Australian Government, as Don Dunstan’s Executive Assistant and Director of the Policy Division.
“Talking about his experience as a civil servant was so very helpful – giving me the practical knowledge that helped me greatly,” says Rini. “And while my English was not strong, Professor Guerin was very supportive.”
It was her first time spent studying abroad, and she fondly remembers the beauty of the Bedford Park campus, especially walking beneath a canopy of eucalyptus trees from her accommodation at Flinders Village across to the main campus. “It set up the right environment for learning. I found Adelaide a very peaceful place.”
She also formed lasting friendships while at Flinders, especially with a diverse community of international students. “One of my closest friends came from Mongolia, and we remain in touch. I made friends with students from Canada and Malaysia, as well as from Australia. It gave me access to a global academic community – and it all influenced the way I live today.
“There was also a strong network of support – great educational mentors, great help from the Flinders International office. I was very young at that time, and they provided great help to me and made me confident as a student.”
Rini says her degree from Flinders University has proved crucial in forwarding her career. “While I had studied law, learning about public management was an important area for my development as a government official,” she says. “The subject of my study was a source of great knowledge and competency that my office needed. It set me up for the career that I have today.”