We understand Indonesia better than ever before — but we can’t become complacent

Australia has long-term interests in understanding Indonesia, building effective and trusting research partnerships with Indonesia, and supporting a dynamic and successful Indonesian research sector.

That’s why the KONEKSI collaboration between Australia and Indonesia funded the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), in partnership with the Australian Academy of the Humanities to produce the newly released report, Mapping Australia’s Indonesia Research Capability.

The report examines the state of Indonesia Research Capability, seeks to better understand the current state of play, inform where both nations might look to build on existing strengths and make more of opportunities, including by understanding barriers to further collaboration.

It highlights areas in which Australia-Indonesia research can solve ‘common problems’ between the two countries, including changing agricultural landscape in response to extreme climate events, improving public health, and supporting a clean energy transition.

Report heralds long-term trend of mentorship & collaboration with Indonesia

Our research relationship with Indonesia has never been more productive.

Australians are regularly conducting research ‘about’ and/or ‘with’ Indonesia. Bibliometric data shows that based on publication outputs, the research relationship between Australia and Indonesia has been strongest in the recent 5–10 years, with more than 6,000 publications generated by Australian-based researchers from 2014 to 2023.

Co-authorship between Indonesian and Australian researchers also grew, with 8,500 co-authored publications released in the past ten years, with 51% of those published within the past five years.

The Indonesia experts consulted emphasised the way their disciplines have built long-term cultures of mentorship and collaboration, has resulted in collaborative research that is rich in knowledge exchange.

While the outputs are heartening, Australian experts say there is room to grow and that the research engagement with Indonesia could be further developed to keep up with the advancements of our nearest neighbour.

Language & capability is key to further collaboration

The report explains why we should be concerned that Australian researchers are choosing to learn Indonesian. We risk squandering opportunities, as Indonesian scholars reported they wanted to study in Australia with established experts in Indonesian Studies with language mastery.

The decline of language capability has implications for our understanding of Indonesia’s past, present and future. It limits Australian scholars’ ability to work with primary evidence or undertake fieldwork in Indonesia.

Knowledge capability is also declining — professors in history, economics and culture with Indonesian specialisation are not being replaced following retirement, which will impact future training.

“This report tells only one side of the story,” said Inga Davis, Executive Director of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. “It studies Australia’s Indonesia research through the eyes of researchers based in Australia, with reference to bibliometrics on Australian research publications.

“Australia’s collaboration with Indonesia thus far needs to be both celebrated but also nurtured. It begs a sequel report; an Indonesian perspective on Indonesia’s capacity to collaborate with Australia.”

 The Australian Academy of the Humanities thanks contributors and the Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Emeritus Professor Louise Edwards FAHA FASSA FHKAH and including Professor Peta Ashworth OAM, Professor Edward Aspinall FAHA, Professor Ken Baldwin FTSE, Professor Vedi Hadiz AM FASSA, Professor Joe Lo Bianco AM FAHA, Professor Budiman Minasny FAA, Professor Anushka Patel FAHMS and Emeritus Professor Kathryn Robinson FASSA. 

Mapping Australia’s Indonesia Research Capability was prepared by the Australian Council of Learned Academies in partnership with the Australian Academy of the Humanities, commissioned by KONEKSI. This program is an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade initiative.

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