ANU Indonesia Project

Thank you to everyone who joined Wednesday's ISG seminar with Umi Julaihah (UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang) , "Accelerating Financial Inclusion through Electronic Social Assistance Payments in Indonesia: Evidence from East Java Province."

During the seminar, Umi explored the factors shaping the adoption of electronic social assistance payments in Indonesia, drawing on evidence from East Java. Her findings provide valuable insights into how digital payment systems can strengthen financial inclusion and improve the delivery of social assistance.

Thank you to Umi Julaihah for sharing her insightful research, and to Nurina Merdikawati for chairing the session. The seminar recording and presentation slides are now available on our online archive and YouTube channel: https://www.indonesiaproject.net/isg-2026.

Do gender stereotypes shape how women express their political views?

Join us for the next Indonesia Study Group (ISG) seminar with Aurelia Ananda ( Griffith University ), who will present new research on how interview conditions influence women's responses to political surveys in Indonesia.

Drawing on three waves of the Asian Barometer Survey (2010–2021), Aurelia examines how interviewer gender and the presence of others during interviews affect women's willingness to express political preferences. The findings provide new insights into the gender gap in political expression and highlight the importance of survey conditions in political research.

📅 Wednesday, 12 August 2026
🕧 12:30–2:00pm AEST // 9:30–11:00am WIB
📍 McDonald Room, Menzies Library, ANU
💻 Join online: bit.ly/ISG_indonesiaproject

For more information, visit .https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/re-examining-gender-gap-again-interview-conditions-impact-womens-responses-political-surveys

Tomorrow! What factors influence debit card acceptance among recipients of Indonesia's digital social assistance programs?

Join us online for an Indonesia Study Group (ISG) seminar with Umi Julaihah ( UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang ), presenting new research on how electronic social assistance payments are supporting financial inclusion in East Java, Indonesia.

📅 Wednesday, 29 July 2026
🕤 9:30–11:00am WIB | 12:30–2:00pm AEST
🔗 Join online: bit.ly/ISG_indonesiaproject

This is an online-only event. Find out more: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/accelerating-financial-inclusion-through-electronic-social-assistance-payments-indonesia

Less than 2 months to go until the 2026 Indonesia Update!

For over 43 years, the Indonesia Update has brought together Indonesianists, policymakers, students, researchers, and professionals from Australia and around the world to discuss the most pressing issues shaping Indonesia.

This year, join us as leading experts explore Islamic Diversity in Indonesia.

📅 18–19 September 2026
📍 ANU Campus, Canberra & Online

Whether you'll be joining us in person or online, don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation.

🎟️ Registrations are now open, secure your spot at https://bit.ly/IndonesiaUpdate43

Can pumped hydro unlock reliable and affordable renewable electricity in Indonesia? ⚡🌿

Join us for "Pumped hydro for reliable and affordable renewable electricity in Indonesia," presented by Anna Nadolny ( Systems & Society at ANU).

As Indonesia seeks to meet growing electricity demand while accelerating its clean energy transition, pumped hydro energy storage could play a key role in supporting low-cost solar and wind power. Drawing on collaborative research by ANU, Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and PLN, this seminar explores how strategic site selection can strengthen Indonesia's electricity system and improve affordability, resilience, and energy security.

📅 Wednesday, 5 August 2026
🕧 12:30–2:00 pm AEST | 9:30–11:00 am WIB
📍 McDonald Room, Menzies Library, ANU
💻 Join online: bit.ly/ISG_indonesiaproject

For more information, visit https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/pumped-hydro-reliable-and-affordable-renewable-electricity-indonesia.

Thank you to everyone who joined today's Indonesia Study Group seminar with Arief Ramayandi, "Revisiting Monetary Policy Transmission in Indonesia and Its Policy Implication." We had a lively and engaging discussion, with thoughtful questions from participants both online and in person.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Arief Ramayandi ( Asian Development Bank Institute) for his timely and insightful presentation, and to Arianto Patunru for chairing the session.

The seminar recording and Arief's presentation slides are now available on our online archive and YouTube channel. Visit https://www.indonesiaproject.net/isg-2026 to access them.

Can monetary policy still keep Indonesia’s economy stable when prices are controlled by the government?

Join us tomorrow for the next Indonesia Study Group (ISG) seminar with Arief Ramayandi ( Asian Development Bank Institute ), who will discuss how monetary policy works in Indonesia, the challenges posed by administered prices, and reforms to strengthen its role in managing inflation.

📅 Wednesday, 22 July 2026
🕧 12:30–2:00 PM AEST (9:30–11:00 AM WIB)
📍 McDonald Room, Menzies Library, ANU
💻 Online: bit.ly/ISG_indonesiaproject

More information: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/revisiting-monetary-policy-transmission-indonesia-and-its-policy-implication

Congratulations to 2025 Eastern Indonesia Research Boot Camp alumna, Dr Nurliah Buhari (Ocha) from Mataram University, on receiving IRSA Research Support at the 21st Indonesian Regional Science Association (IRSA) International Conference 2026.

We were pleased to reconnect with Ocha in Bandar Lampung and celebrate this important milestone. The recognition was awarded for her research, "Unlocking Underutilized Edible Macroalgae for Inclusive Coastal Food System Transformation: A GEDSI-Based Study in Lombok, Indonesia," which explores the potential of underutilised edible macroalgae to support more inclusive and sustainable coastal food systems through a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) lens.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the Eastern Indonesia Research Boot Camps is seeing researchers continue to build on the relationships, skills and collaborations developed through the program. Ocha's achievement reflects the ongoing contribution of Boot Camp alumni to Indonesia's research community and demonstrates how locally grounded research can continue to gain recognition and inform wider academic and policy discussions.

Congratulations once again, Ocha, on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to sharing more about your research journey and following your continued contributions.

From Boot Camp to the conference stage!

Following Boot Camp 2 in Bandar Lampung, participants in the ANU Indonesia Project-KONEKSI Eastern Indonesia Research Boot Camps took the next step in their journey by presenting their research at the 21st Indonesian Regional Science Association (IRSA) International Conference, held on 6-7 July in Bandar Lampung.

Researchers shared work spanning disability inclusion, gender equality, food systems, renewable energy, regional development and public policy with an international community of researchers, policymakers and development practitioners. Their presentations reflected the depth, diversity and quality of research being undertaken across Eastern Indonesia while contributing to important conversations on regional development and evidence-informed policy.

For the ANU Indonesia Project, we could not have been prouder to see participants present their research at IRSA 2026. It was incredibly rewarding to witness months of research development, mentoring and presentation preparation culminate in researchers confidently sharing their work, engaging with fellow academics and contributing their expertise to an international research community.

The ANU Indonesia Project is proud to partner with KONEKSI in supporting initiatives that strengthen research capacity and create opportunities for researchers to share locally grounded knowledge on national and international platforms. Congratulations to every participant on your outstanding presentations. We look forward to seeing your research continue to contribute to evidence-informed policy, future collaborations and meaningful impact across Indonesia.

Every meaningful presentation begins with a conversation.

One of the defining features of Boot Camp 2 was the opportunity for every participant to work one-on-one with an academic mentor. These dedicated mentoring sessions enabled researchers to refine the aspects of their presentations that mattered most through thoughtful discussion, individual feedback and academic exchange.

Whether presenting research on disability inclusion, gender equality, regional development or public policy, each mentoring session was shaped by the participant's research, presentation style and priorities. Through personalised feedback, mentors and researchers refined key messages, strengthened presentation structure and explored the most effective ways to communicate their work while building on the expertise already in the room.

Thank you to every participant and mentor for your generosity, professionalism and commitment throughout these sessions. It was inspiring to see researchers and mentors learn from one another through thoughtful discussion, generous feedback and shared learning!