The Muslim Exchange Program (MEP) for young leaders began in 2002 to build links between Muslim communities in Australia and Indonesia and promote greater understanding and recognition of religion and its role in each country, the Australian Embassy said on its official website quoted on Monday.
Funded by the Australian Government and run through the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII), MEP was established in 2002 as one of the AIIs flagship programs. So far, 52 Australians and 132 Indonesians have participated.
Muslim Exchange Program involves two-week visits to Australia by groups of young Indonesian Muslim community leaders and two-week visits to Indonesia by their Australian counterparts.
These young leaders include writers, academics and workers in non-governmental and religious organisations.
The program is designed to build greater awareness among the Indonesian participants of Australia�s multicultural society and a greater awareness among the Australian participants of the nature of mainstream Islam in Indonesia.
Candidates are interviewed and selected by an independent selection panel based on their professional and social networks and their capacity to act as ambassadors and participate in interfaith dialogue.
The requirements for the Indonesian participants are: Indonesian applicants for Male must be under 40 years of age and for Female must be under 45 years of age, demonstrated fluency in English through TOEFL (international or institutional standard) with minimum score of 450, priority for score above 500, Completion of the application form (available at www.paramadina.ac.id or www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au).
Applications must be lodged by Friday 11 December 2015 at 23:59 WIB.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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