Tag: UK

Evening with Chevening

Posted on 2024-11-29

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the “Evening with Chevening” event at the British Embassy in Jakarta. This gathering was extra special as it marked the 40th anniversary of the Chevening Scholarship program, a UK government initiative that has been empowering future leaders worldwide since 1983. Over the past four decades, Chevening has built a global network of more than 57,000 alumni, including 20 current or former heads of state.

In Indonesia, the impact of Chevening is significant, with numerous scholars benefiting from the opportunity to pursue fully funded master’s degrees in the UK. The program covers university tuition fees, a monthly stipend, travel costs, and more, allowing scholars to focus entirely on their studies and personal development. Attending the event was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow alumni and celebrate the program’s ongoing commitment to nurturing leadership and fostering positive change in Indonesia and beyond.

Britcham Special UK Alumni & Business Gathering

Posted on 2017-10-24

About twice a year, I attend events of British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (Britcham). Tonight (24 October 2017) the event was carried out at UK Ambassador Residence in Patra Kuningan, Jakarta.

UK Alumni Discussion on Smart Cities

Posted on 2016-10-27

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Today, the UK Embassy — with British Council & IABA — carried out a thematic discussion on Smart Cities Beyond ICT-Based Cities, in Panghegar Hotel, Bandung. I happened to be in Bandung after the IEEE Lecture at Telkom University, so I attended this event. The speakers were Prof Suhono (ICT), Prof Haryo (Planology), & Ms Heni (City Management), with Ms Mira as the moderator.

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Before leaving, we have small informal chats about the progress of some Smart City initiatives in Indonesia.

London

Posted on 1995-10-30

I chose to spend this short weekend in London before returning home because it feels like a rare chance, something I may not get again for a long time. Many of Telkom’s engineers these days are sent for training in Germany with Siemens or in the US with AT&T and Lucent, so flying across the Channel to London feels almost like stealing a moment that might never come around twice.

I decided to make the most of the one full day I had, so I headed straight to Madame Tussaud’s and bought the bundled ticket. Then I just hopped onto the sightseeing bus included in the package, the kind with the open top that lets you feel every gust of London air. The route took me through the heart of the city, past Regent Street and Trafalgar Square, and eventually to the spot that truly anchored the day: the Houses of Parliament, glowing softly in the late-afternoon light as the Thames drifted by. I walked along the river for a while, letting the gothic towers fill my field of vision, then drifted back into the city as evening settled in. It has been a long day, but a good one.

Postscript: Of course, history proved me spectacularly wrong: the UK and Japan ended up becoming the two countries I have visited most often in my life, while Germany, i.e. ironically the “common” destination I assumed I would eventually reach, barely held me for a few days in total. Looking back, that earnest miscalculation makes the memory even sweeter.