My Experience as an AIFIS Honorary Fellow
Hello everyone! I am Eko Widianto from Indonesia, a first-year PhD student at the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of Galway. I am thrilled to share that I have been awarded a fully funded BIB-LPDP scholarship from the government of the Republic of Indonesia for my PhD studies. In addition, I had the incredible opportunity to receive a summer fellowship from the American Institute for Indonesian Studies and the Henry Luce Foundation for two months of field research at the Center of Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States.
Becoming an AIFIS honorary fellow researcher was a challenging feat. I had to undergo a rigorous selection process in collaboration with the AIFIS-Luce Foundation, which involved submitting a compelling research proposal and finding a U.S. counterpart. Out of hundreds of candidates from Indonesia, I am proud to have been selected as one of only ten grantees.
After having oral history interviews with Professor John Wolff (early Indonesian lecturer and Indonesian textbooks author at Cornell University) in Ithaca
After having oral history interviews with Professor John Wolff (early Indonesian lecturer and Indonesian textbooks author at Cornell University) in Ithaca
My workspace at Inghram Hall; Center of Southeast Asian Studies, UW-Madison
My workspace at Inghram Hall; Center of Southeast Asian Studies, UW-Madison
Taking a pic with Professor Michael Cullinane (Associate Director of the CSEAS) and Professor Ellen Rafferty (Indonesian textbooks author)
Taking a pic with Professor Michael Cullinane (Associate Director of the CSEAS) and Professor Ellen Rafferty (Indonesian textbooks author)
Taking a pic in front of Olin Library, Cornell University.
Taking a pic in front of Olin Library, Cornell University.
During my two-month field research from July to August 2024, I delved into the captivating history of Indonesian language teaching in the United States from the 1940s to the present. I had the privilege of conducting oral history interviews with renowned figures involved in Indonesian language teaching, such as Prof. John Wolff from Cornell University and Prof. Ellen Rafferty from UW-Madison.
Furthermore, I gained access to the archives of the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute program, housed in the Memorial Library at UW-Madison and the Olin Library at Cornell University.
Taking a picture with Prof. G.G. Weix (University of Montana), a vice president of AIFIS.
Taking a picture with Prof. G.G. Weix (University of Montana), a vice president of AIFIS.
The insights I gained from this research fellowship are precious to my PhD studies, where I focus on cultural issues in Indonesian textbooks and curriculum. My research is dedicated to exploring the development of Indonesian textbooks used in the United States over the decades, and my time in the U.S. provided me with a wealth of information on this subject.
I am genuinely grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and am excited to continue this enriching journey in academia.
Words and images thanks to Eko Widianto.