Jakarta, wapresri.go.id – The UK is increasingly in demand by Indonesian students to pursue higher education. There are at least reasons for this: the high education standards, the relatively affordable cost of education, and a shorter study period.

“The Indonesian government currently has the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship and every year there are about 3,000 Indonesian students who get it. Most of them prefer to study in the UK,” said Vice President Jusuf Kalla when he received UK’s Royal Special Envoy to Indonesia on Trade Richard Graham M.P. at the Office of Vice President, Jakarta on Wednesday (Aug. 23).

When asked about the possibility of British universities to open their campuses in Indonesia, the Vice President said the laws and regulations in Indonesia do not allow it.

“What is possible to do is a joint program or joint campus between universities in the UK and Indonesia,” he explained.

However, the Vice President continued, it is possible that the regulation on the establishment of a foreign campus in the country might be revised in the future. “It would be more efficient if we bring professors from England to Indonesia than we send our students there,” he said.

On that occasion, Richard also appreciated the cooperation between Indonesia and the leading air traffic control services company in the UK NATS to improve the quality of aviation system in Indonesia.

“I also applaud your steps in improving the infrastructure of airports in Indonesia, one of which is by extending the runway,” said Richard.

This, he added, is believed to encourage the growth of the economy and the number of tourists from both countries. Until the end of 2016, British tourists who visited Indonesia had reached 25 percent or the largest tourists from Europe. (FM, KIP Setwapres)