Indonesian scholar (Issue 8 , 2009)
International student Mohamad Fahmi
He is the Chair of the Indonesian Students Association of Australia (National Board) and a member of the La Trobe Indonesian Students Association. But with membership comes responsibility and Mohamad, although a busy research student makes time for strategising and planning events for the Indonesian students community in Australia.
‘My experience in Australia is giving me a better sense of how things work in a developed country. I feel that by studying here I am developing my way of thinking and I will be able to implement my learnings back home in Indonesia,’ says Mohamad when reflecting about his experience studying in Australia.
Mohamad is the recipient of an AUSAID scholarship for a PhD in the School of Economics and Finance, focusing closely on school type choices and forecasting future earnings in Indonesia. He previously finished a Master of Economics in Indonesia.
‘Getting to know so many interesting people - helpful supervisors, friendly staff and students coming from a multitude of cultures – has been one of the best things in my life as an international student.’
Mohamad is planning to finish his PhD in 2010, when he will return to his home institution, the University of Padjadjaran, where he has an academic position waiting for him. While he is still in Australia, he continues his involvement with the Indonesian associations.