京都大学 大学院経済学研究科・経済学部

Field Research in Indonesia 2013

September 15th to 21st, 2013

The Graduate School of Economics organized a “Field Research in Indonesia” in which six students from Japan, China, and Indonesia participated. Among the six students, five are students of the Graduate School of Economics and one is a student of the Graduate School of Management.

Participants in front of MEP, Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Gadjah Mada

The first half of the program was held in the ancient capital city of Yogyakarta. On the first day, the participants visited the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Gadjah Mada. The faculty members who came with the students to Indonesia discussed with their counterparts the possibility of signing a faculty-level academic exchange agreement that would hopefully lead to an active collaborative relationship between the Graduate School of Economics and the Faculty of Economics and Business. On the other hand, the students participated in a joint student workshop in which five students—three from Kyoto University and two from Universitas Gadja Mada—gave presentations about their research results. The workshop was chaired by Kyoto University students and was attended by more than 50 students from Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Presenters during the joint student workshop at Universitas Gadjah Mada

The second day was used to understand Yogyakarta’s local economy and appreciate Javanese culture. The participants visited the silver craft producing locality of Kotagede in which they were able to observe how traditional silver ware is produced. They also talked and interacted with the shop owners during their visit to the Beringharjo Market which is a wholesale and retail market for a variety of goods such as farm produce and traditional cloth of Batik. Lastly, they went to the cultural sites of Kraton Yogyakarta (the primary palace of the Yogyakarta Sultanate) and Prambanan Temple (the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia) in which they were able to watch cultural performances: Gamelan musical ensemble and Ramayana ballet.

Participants listening to the lecture by Dr. Tadashi Ogawa

For the second half of the program, the participants went to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. They visited the Indonesian headquarters of Japan-affiliated organizations: the Japan Foundation, Japan Education Information Center, and the Jakarta Japan Club. Mr. Susumu Yoshida who is the Secretary General of the Jakarta Japan Club and Ms. Rizky Mayunda Putri who is a representative of Japan Educational Information Center discussed with the participants about the political and economic situation as well as Japan’s place and interests in Indonesia. Whereas, Dr. Tadashi Ogawa who is the regional director for Southeast Asia of the Japan Foundation gave an insightful and interesting lecture on Japan’s public diplomacy approach in Indonesia.

Participants in front of Monas or the National Monument

To gain insights on the colonial and post-colonial experience of Indonesia, the participants went around Kota or Old Batavia which was the center of the Dutch colonial administration, and the Lapangan Merdeka or Freedom Square and surrounding vicinity to see the National Monument, the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral. To look into the Indonesian political economy and probe into whether there are underlying contradictions, the participants visited the Museum Bank Indonesia, and the contrasting places of Grand Indonesia Shopping Town and the Petak Sembilan Street Market.

It was a hectic seven days. Nevertheless, it was an enriching and meaningful experience for the participants.

Participants

Instructors:

  • Prof. HISANO Shuji
  • Assist. Prof. John LAMBINO

Students of Graduate School of Economics (EA Course Programme)

  • ZHU Ran
  • ZHAI Yalei
  • GE Jiamei
  • PUSPITASARI Bita

Student of Graduate School of Economics (General Programme)

  • YOKOYAMA Natsuko

Student of Graduate School of Management

  • FUJIWARA Hiroshi

Related Link

Kyoto University Asian Studies Unit (KUASU)
http://www.kuasu.cpier.kyoto-u.ac.jp/english/

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