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There are two Australian students of Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) of University of Muhammadyah Malang (UMM) who present their final report of their research in Indonesia on Wednesday, December 12. They are Sally Swinnen and Janelle Susan Falconer.
As the first presenter, Janelle reported her research result which she conducted in Sendang Biru beach area. She explored the tourism practice and rate the implementation of the sustainable of the ecological tourism development principles. “The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the community in Sendang Biru apply the local initiative of the sustainable development, and if it is so, to what extent the implementation is,” Janelle asserted.
During her three months research, she found that there are various efforts of the ecologically sustainable development done by the Sendang Biru community. “Their latest initiative is the mangrove conservation done by the local mangrove association which lit the development for the local ecotourism,” she asserted.
Sally, on the other hand, conducted a research on the tobacco farmers’ and industries perception to the framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC). She researched the tobacco farmers in Kecamatan Kalisat, Kabupaten Jember. “The purpose of this convention is to embattle the epidemic impact on our health,” said Sally whom also have Indonesian nickname as Sulis.
She, in her report, stated that many farmers are worried if Indonesian government ratify this convention. “In terms of economy, they are worried because tobacco has been their main commodity since 1970. It can be said that tobacco leaf is golden leaf,” she asserted.
Elena Williams, ACICIS Resident Director, stated that the researches which were conducted by UMM ACICIS students are very interesting. “We are proud to be cooperated with UMM. This kind of cooperation is beneficial not only for ACICIS students and the resident universities, but also the communities which become the research object,” she asserted.
The Dean of the Faculty of the Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Dr. Asep Nurjaman, MSi, suggested that even their research in Indonesia is finished, it doesn’t mean that the relationship between two countries also finished. “This becomes the step stone of the further intimate relationship between these two countries,” Asep asserted. (zul/han/t_rfd)
