Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, begins his three-day regional visit to Yogyakarta on Sundya where he would visit one of the oldest girls' madrasahs in the city besides meeting business leaders and Australian alumni.
Ambassador Grigson will also meet Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, whose daughter GKR Mangkubumi will accompany him to the madrasah, the Australian Embassy here said on its official website on Monday.
Madrasah Mu'allimat will be one of the pesantren, madrasahs and public schools in Yogyakarta that will be invited to take part in the Ambassador's Principal Lecture Series. The lectures have been a great success in Jakarta, enabling principals and teachers to learn more about quality educational practices and exploring issues of gender, disability and creating a positive school culture.
"We've held a number of these lectures already in the Embassy in Jakarta. The next one will be held in Yogyakarta later this year," Ambassador Grigson said.
"Participants at these lectures will hear firsthand from education experts, universities and civil society and representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture," he informed.
While in Yogyakarta, Ambassador Grigson will also explore one of Yogyakarta's best known jewelry factories, Ansor's Silver. As part of Australian support for developing Indonesia's creative industries, local designers and entrepreneurs are being invited to apply for the new short course, International Business Readiness - Jewelry Design.
"We're pleased to offer this opportunity which will help designers develop skills in using new technology, including social media, to access new markets and to create more links to help their business expand overseas," Ambassador Grigson explained.
The Australia Awards Jewelry Design course follows the great success of the recent Scholarship for the Fashion and Textiles Sector, under which 25 Indonesian women entrepreneurs and designers went to Brisbane and Sydney earlier this year. (WDY)
