Neso Indonesia

20 Jun 2007

History

Cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands has a long history. Many elements in education can be traced back to the colonial past. In the years seventy and eighty many institutions from the Netherlands set up all kinds of possible cooperation with Indonesian universities, often subsidized through certain regulations. Many of these cooperation programmes came suddenly to an end or were postponed when in 1992 President Suharto prohibited all kinds of development cooperation with the Netherlands. Fortunately many of the Dutch Universities succeeded to continue their cooperation although on a far smaller scale.

Foundation of the NESO

In 1995 many institutions had re-established activities in Indonesia and the need was felt to coordinate these activities and to promote Dutch Higher Education in Indonesia. In 1996 the umbrella organizations of Dutch Higher Education institutions founded the Netherlands Education Centre. By November 2005, NEC Indonesia was officially became the representative office of Nuffic in Inodnesia. Effective on 1 May 2007, NEC changes its name into Netherlands Education Support Office (NESO) Indonesia.

Objectives

In the articles of association the main objective mentioned is to represent the interest of Dutch Education in Indonesia, to be carried out by i.e.:

  • Provide information about the Dutch Education system;
  • To initiate or facilitate projects both in Indonesia as well as in the Netherlands;
  • To provide general assistance to Dutch member institution in their activities in Indonesia;
  • To coordinate and facilitate bilateral cooperation between Indonesian and Dutch institutes of education.

Activities

Along the road NESO activities have expanded. By now NESO executes many education related activities on behalf of the Netherlands Embassy in Jakarta such as scholarship programmes and generic promotion. The Indonesian government sees NESO as the central reference for Dutch Education. More and more NESO is involved in finding the appropriate partners for cooperation both by Indonesian and Dutch institutions of Higher Education. In the TPSDP programme for strengthening Higher Education in Indonesia, sponsored by the Asian Development Bank, NESO offers assistance to Indonesian Universities and Institutions of Higher Education in finding the most appropriate study programmes and courses and in finding technical assistance. In the line of generic and specific promotion once a year the Holland Education Fair is organized.

Throughout the year NESOC participates in smaller education fairs organized by a wide variety of Indonesian Institutions of higher Education. With the opening of the new NESO office is will be possible to give presentations on all aspects of higher education in the Netherlands on a regular basis.

NESO will assist students in obtaining information about: the education system in the Netherlands, the study requirements, tuition fees, application procedures and pre-departure briefing without any charges.