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May 10, 2006
The Fletcher-Indonesia link – Foreign Affairs Minister Wirajuda to speak at Commencement
In 2004, elections in Indonesia ushered in a new age of democracy in the world’s fourth largest country, as voters expressed their desire for political reform and good governance, making bureaucratic reforms a necessity. Instrumental in spearheading these mandates was a small brain trust of alumni and students from The Fletcher School, which is fast becoming a platform to ministerial and other high-ranking positions in the Indonesian government.
Umar Hadi (GMAP 2007), Dean Bosworth, and Senior Associate Dean Nutter
Among those initiating institutional reforms is Foreign Affairs Minister N. Hassan Wirajuda (MALD 1984), whose leadership style emphasizes the value meritocracy and not just seniority. His approach has paved the way for rising stars to follow in his footsteps, both at Fletcher and within the ministry of foreign affairs.
“If it was not for [Wirajuda], I would not be here,” said Umar Hadi, 38, a GMAP II student who recently spent a week on campus for GMAP classes and activities. Hadi, director of public diplomacy for the foreign ministry, noted that before Wirajuda, most directors were closer to 50 years old.
“That only shows one of the changes he has instituted,” Hadi said. He described how Wirajuda has restructured the Foreign Ministry to balance the handling of bilateral, regional, and multilateral-global affairs, as well as restructuring missions abroad and reforming the way the ministry recruits and trains diplomats. Furthermore, Wirajuda pays a special attention, Hadi said, to the education of Indonesian diplomats both at home and abroad.
Wirajuda, who will be the keynote speaker at Fletcher’s 2006 graduation ceremony, was appointed foreign minister in 2001 and reappointed in 2004 by the new government. As a cabinet member, he is joined by another Fletcher alumnus, Sofyan Djalil (Ph.D. 1993), minister of communication and information.
Hadi, a diplomat with more than 14 years of experience, explained why he chose to pursue a graduate degree at this point in his career.
“Three or four years ago I came to realize I needed to structure the knowledge and experience that I had gained so far,” he said. “I needed to reflect and zoom out.”
Hadi added that he decided on GMAP at Fletcher because it allowed him to “broaden my horizons” while at the same time allowing him to keep his job.
The Indonesia-Fletcher connection was strengthened recently by Ignasius Jonan, CEO of Bahana Pembinaan Usaha, one of the leading financial institutions in Indonesia. Jonan, a 2005 GMAP II graduate, helped establish a GMAP scholarship for training members of Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry.
Hadi received the scholarship for the GMAP class of 2007.
Alongside Hadi in the class of 2007 is Tri Purnajaya, second secretary for press, cultural, and educational affairs at the Embassy of Indonesia in New Zealand. They follow Odo Manuhutu, directorate for special political affairs in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, who graduated with the class of 2006.
“One of the things we are most proud of at Fletcher is the leaders we have produced in both the public and private sectors around the world,” said Deborah Winslow Nutter, senior associate dean and GMAP director. “In several countries, our alumni fill the ranks of senior leadership. This is certainly the case in Indonesia.”
Fletcher’s alumni ties to Indonesia also extend beyond government positions. The head of the Aceh Monitoring Mission is Fletcher graduate Pieter Feith.
“Through the Global Master of Arts Program, The Fletcher School has recently reconnected with and expanded this illustrious group,” Nutter said.
By Timothy Homan, MALD '07
Posted by fletcher at May 10, 2006 02:44 PM
