Delivering a speech during the Holland Alumni Seminar at the Dutch cultural centre in Jakarta on Monday, Bussemaker noted that the relations between both nations had been going far beyond business interests, as every year, increasingly more numbers of Indonesian students are coming to study and spend their time in the Netherlands.
"A cross-border connection develops after you meet people with whom you can gain international experiences. It is important for you, as an international alumni, to share such experiences with other people here because I think you are our most important ambassadors," she emphasized.
Referring to the result of an international research, Bussemaker explained that international students were a special breed, as they have the courage and willingness to study in other countries and gain new experiences away from their familiar surroundings.
International students, in this case, Indonesians, are believed to be more creative, efficient, and innovative in tackling global issues, such as poverty, climate change, and minority conflicts.
Such challenges need to be addressed by strengthening people-to-people relations and cooperation between countries in the world.
"Having a creative, efficient, and innovative mindset makes you a more valuable asset both for Indonesia and the Netherlands since wider cooperation calls for more ambitious and smarter people like you to address the issues," Bussemaker noted.
EP-Nuffic, the Dutch organization for internationalization in education, has managed the Holland Alumni Network to set up and facilitate an international network of Holland alumni, future alumni, Holland alumni associations, Dutch higher education institutions, and relevant organizations all over the world.
In Indonesia, the network comprises more than 9,600 Indonesians who have studied in the Netherlands.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
