Four USC staff and students have been awarded travel scholarships by Garuda Indonesia Airline to pursue new teaching, research and study projects in Indonesia.

Three of the recipients are already in Indonesia and the fourth, languages expert Ann Robertson, leaves next month.

USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill and Garuda Indonesia Airline General Manager Queensland Aryo Wijoseno presented the scholarships at a recent ceremony at USC’s Innovation Centre Auditorium.

Professor Hill said the University had formed a partnership with the airline to strengthen relationships between Australia and Indonesia, which would have great benefits for USC staff and students as well as for Indonesian communities.

The scholarships program is expected to continue annually. The four recipients and their projects are:

• USC Associate Lecturer in Communication Ann Robertson, who has visited Indonesia regularly since 1988, will study the progress of Indonesian school teachers who have completed degrees at USC to enhance their classroom practices. Ms Robertson has worked at USC since 2000 in the areas of language education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

• USC student Halim Nataprawira, who is completing a PhD in Indonesian Sociolinguistics and tutors in Indonesian language, will do research across the country, including with local university linguists, to investigate people’s use of language in everyday dialogue.

• USC Bachelor of Social Science student Gillian Hall will participate in an Indonesian Language Program at the University of Mataram and an industry placement at a large child development centre on the island of Lombok.

• USC International Projects Group administrative assistant Rebecca Kelly will study Indonesian language at the University of Mataram to assist her work in helping the IPG increase education capacity in Papua, Indonesia. She will also visit USC alumni in Indonesia and volunteer in schools and villages.

Pictured (left to right): Ann Robertson, Gillian Hall, Halim Nataprawira, Garuda GM Queensland Aryo Wijoseno, USC Vice-Chancellor Greg Hill and Rebecca Kelly.

— Julie Schomberg