Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C, — Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo met with Harvard University President Dr. Alan Garber to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation in higher education, research, healthcare, and human resource development.
The meeting, held in Washington, D.C., focused on strengthening collaboration between Indonesia and Harvard University in support of academic excellence, scientific research, and the development of globally competitive talent.
Founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is the oldest university in the United States and consistently ranks among the world’s leading higher education institutions.
The university has maintained close ties with Indonesia through its growing network of alumni, academic partnerships, and research collaborations. As of 2022, approximately 315 Indonesians had graduated from Harvard, making Indonesia one of the largest sources of Harvard alumni in Southeast Asia.
Harvard’s global alumni network includes around 400,000 living graduates and more than 150 Nobel Prize laureates associated with the university.
Among its internationally recognized alumni are former U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush, Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer, and Indian industrialist Ratan Tata.
Indonesia’s notable Harvard alumni include Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Nadiem Makarim, Gita Wirjawan, Andhika Perkasa, Yenny Wahid, Tom Lembong, Sandiaga Uno, Billy Mambrasar, and Stella Christie, reflecting the university’s role in developing Indonesian leaders across government, business, and academia.
Academic cooperation has also expanded beyond alumni engagement. Indonesia has worked with Harvard Medical School to strengthen medical education, public health research, and community-based primary healthcare programs.
Indonesian students enrolled at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have also contributed research on Indonesian public policy, legal reform, and healthcare systems.
The Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) continues to identify Harvard as one of its priority destinations for scholarship recipients pursuing graduate studies at world-class universities.
The Indonesian government is also developing scholarship initiatives aimed at increasing access to leading global universities, including Harvard, as part of its broader strategy to cultivate future leaders and strengthen national competitiveness.
The meeting between Ambassador Indroyono and President Garber reaffirmed the shared commitment of Indonesia and Harvard University to deepen academic partnerships and promote innovation that benefits both countries. (*)
