Aceh Research Training Institute (ARTI)

Estimated budget	A$3 million
Commenced	September 2006
Scheduled completion	December 2009
Counterpart Agencies	Syiah Kuala University
Main Locations	Banda Aceh
Managing Contractor	University of Melbourne

Background

The physical, psychological and human devastation caused by the tsunami of 26 December 2004 impacted upon a province that had already suffered the havoc of over 30 years of conflict. The tsunami resulted in the loss of 111 qualified lecturing staff at Syiah Kuala University, 23 from the Islamic University (IAIN), and many more from private universities. With the loss of teaching staff the quality of teaching at the university level is threatened. The remaining students in the universities of Banda Aceh need access to good quality teaching with well developed research skills. An educated workforce is critical to the redevelopment of the province.

Description

The Aceh Research and Training Institute program aims to build research capacity in Aceh by working with research students and university lecturers to enhance teaching, research outcomes, and facilitate the production of the trained graduates vitally important for Aceh's effective rehabilitation.

The program will focus on the revitalisation of the Aceh Research and Training Institute (ARTI) located at Universitas Syiah Kuala in Banda Aceh. This program is being implemented in collaboration with the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies, the University of Melbourne.

Achievements/outcomes to date

To date, the Program has completed the following activities:

Construction of the new building is underway and due for completion in February 2007. Refurbishment of existing building will commence after the new building is operation.
Team leader recruited and mobilised in January 2007, and planning for the first round of training underway for March.

This page was last updated on 25 January 2007