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President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to providing enhanced funding to foster links between US and Indonesia in his recent visit with a view to building strategic partnerships between educational institutions between them. As far as Indonesian higher education is concerned this is a major breakthrough indeed.

At present, in Indonesia, we find only about seventeen percent pursuing higher education. This is in fact one of the greatest obstacles this nation faces in its bid to grow economically. There have been several opinions in this respect where experts believe this country does not have enough capacity to fulfill the requirements of the field of higher education in order to move ahead and compete on the global scene.

Brightest students from this country can now have access to higher education fuelled by these partnerships. They can be encouraged with opportunities to lead in different walks of life and to become future leaders helping their country move forward.

Deserving Indonesian students can now broaden their horizon and have access to high quality overseas education. Many in Indonesia feel that such strategic partnerships are essential for Indonesia to enhance their own quality of education. Long standing educational opportunities have always been provided by the US and can be emulated as an example for creating highly successful education model for this country.

The aim of creating high class universities in Indonesia can be achieved through the formal educational establishment links. The economic growth of Indonesia in fact depends on improving the number of students reaching out for higher education opportunities. This is the only way Indonesia can grow economically strong filling gaps and nurturing a future generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.

More than entrepreneurs and leaders, our focus must be on ensuring improved lecturing and providing good facilities. Teachers are the backbone of any education system and it is no different in Indonesia. It is imperative to create the perfect environment teachers are encouraged to push beyond their capacities and provide students with the best opportunities. This is absolutely essential if Indonesia has to grow as a nation and find a place among the economically significant nations across the world.

Experts in Indonesia feel that just creating partnerships with US is not going to help. It is important to create partnership with students to ensure that only the wealthiest do not benefit from this opportunity. It is necessary to identify talents and provide this opportunity and access to all irrespective of their economic standing.

Indonesia, known as the nation of entrepreneurs, must be provided with this opportunity to surge ahead by fostering this spirit with increased high quality education access. As of now, many companies in Indonesia have been coming forward to sponsor deserving students. However this is not enough and deserving students will need access to scholarships.

Scholarships must necessarily reward the most deserving, talented and bright students to encourage them to progress in their endeavor. It is also the need of the hour to encourage students to complete their higher education and return to the country to serve.