The first series of the guidebook includes six countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Portugal, France, Russia and Sweden.
London (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Students Association (PPI) has launched an overseas education guidebook, which was jointly developed by PPI Europe and PPI America.

"The first series of the guidebook includes six countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Portugal, France, Russia and Sweden," PPI Press Bureau Coordinator Mustaqim Effendi told ANTARA in London on Wednesday.

Mustaqim, who is also the chairman of PPI's Syria chapter, said the soft-launching of the book's electronic version was held during an International Symposium of PPI in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently.

The 213-page book provides introductory information on several countries, scholarships, accommodation, transportation facilities, education and part-time jobs, among other things.

Presidium Coordinator of PPI Effendi Zulham in his speech said the book could change the traditional views of readers with regard to studying in foreign countries.

"The fears, doubts and anxieties of studying overseas have been addressed in this book," he noted.

"The book is a compilation of information provided by the PPIs of the relevant countries. Therefore, it is almost like first-hand information, coming from people who understand the region very well," Effendi explained.

Coordinator of Book Compilation from PPI in Czech Republic Hery Dian Septama stated that the compilation process began several months ago, which involved several meetings between the members of PPI Europe and PPI America.

He said the Indonesian Technology Experts and Scientist Community (MITI) sponsored the book, expressing hope that the book could be printed soon and distributed to Indonesian students.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of PPI in Europe and America A. Rohim Boy Berawi said: "This program should be followed by PPI in other regions so that more such guidebooks can be published."

The electronic version of the book can be downloaded from various websites of PPI, such as ppiceko.org, ppifrance.fr, ppiswedia.se, ppiportugal.web.id, ppi-rusia.org and ppiaustria.org.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013