RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia is strengthening its regional influence through education diplomacy by expanding academic, research, and cultural partnerships with China, South Korea, and Japan.

The country’s education and cultural attaché offices in Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo are expanding their networks to broaden global collaboration opportunities.

The strategic move was outlined during a webinar series hosted by the attaché offices and Indonesia’s delegation to UNESCO, underscoring education as a key instrument of the nation’s soft power diplomacy.

According to a joint statement, the attaché office in Beijing noted that the Indonesian government, through the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), is opening access to partner universities in China via co‑funding schemes that enable Indonesian students to pursue higher education.

China also offers scholarships such as the Chinese Government Scholarship, which covers full tuition, accommodation, living allowance, and health insurance. Starting in 2025, undergraduate applicants must meet requirements including the HSK and CSCA.

Beyond scholarships, Indonesia and China continue to strengthen collaboration through student exchanges, joint research, cultural centers, and the development of vocational programs.

Meanwhile, the attaché office in Seoul reported that around 2,700 Indonesian students are currently studying in South Korea, from diploma to doctoral levels. The main scholarship offered is the Global Korea Scholarship, managed by the National Institute for International Education.

South Korea’s rapid educational progress is reflected in the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment rankings, where it placed first in mathematics and reading, and second in science, among OECD countries.

Opportunities continue to grow through the Korea 300K Project, which aims to attract 300,000 international students. In addition to scholarships, South Korea provides teacher training programs focused on digital technology, as well as teacher exchanges and sister school initiatives.

In Japan, the attaché office in Tokyo highlighted a wide range of scholarships from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels. Key funding sources include the MEXT Scholarship and Indonesia’s LPDP, alongside support from universities and donor institutions.

Japan’s strong “triple helix” model, linking academia, industry, and government, creates extensive opportunities for research collaboration. Indonesian researchers can partner with Japanese counterparts and access funding from institutions such as the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. ***