Jakarta, April 8, 2024 — Cornell University has proudly declared Mr. Made Adityanandana (Aditya) the 2024 Winner of the coveted R-Adhikarya ‘Niche’ Award (RANA) for the third consecutive year in 2024. Aditya’s innovative perspectives and approaches towards motivating and mobilizing the young generation of Indonesians to participate in a “renaissance” movement for developing sustainable agriculture in Indonesia have been instrumental in his selection for this prestigious award.
Since 2020, the prestigious RANA has been an annual event that acknowledges and rewards exceptional individuals with scholarships to three of the world’s top-notch educational institutions in the United States: the East-West Center, Stanford University, and Cornell University. The RANA Prize at Cornel University recognizes outstanding Global Development graduate students demonstrating innovative and “niche” perspectives in their studies and careers. RANA is offered in conjunction with Cornell’s scholarships, which puts the total value of the award at US$66,030.
Aditya has been acknowledged for his dedication to comprehending rural livelihoods and the role of youth participation in sustainable agricultural development. His RANA Prize at Cornell will fund a year’s research in Central Kalimantan, where Aditya will investigate the structural impediments and discourses that may discourage young people from pursuing a career in farming.
Aditya’s Ph.D. dissertation at Cornell explores the generational renewal of family farms, a critical factor in sustaining food production. Indonesia’s increasing demand for rice, coupled with an aging farmer population, poses challenges to sustaining production growth. His research specifically delves into the social production of aspirations shaping the decision-making process of young people who become farmers.
Aditya’s research aims to explore the potential of emerging technologies in facilitating the growth of youth engagement in the farming and agri-business sectors.
He will investigate how educational institutions and social media can motivate, influence, and facilitate Indonesian youth to have successful careers, financial security, and meaningful lifestyles.
Aditya’s former roles at the Institute for Peace and Democracy and Udayana University in Indonesia gave him an understanding of contemporary rural issues, particularly for smallholder farmers and youth participation in rural and agricultural development. Aditya’s former undergraduate studies at Pelita Harapan University in Indonesia and at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in Holland, as well as his Master’s degree, proved to be invaluable in preparing for his important scholarly investigation.
“Aditya’s commitment to comprehending agrarian livelihoods in Indonesia and specifically the issue of generational renewal on family farms in the current scenario of a national drive to boost food production showcases the essence of critical analysis and impact we promote in the Department of Global Development,” said Lori Leonard, Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Development at Cornell. “We express our gratitude to the RANA Prize, Ronny Adhikarya and Mee-Ching, for their support in empowering our students to extend the limits of innovative thinking in Southeast Asian studies and global development.”
Dr. Ronny Adhikarya, the founder of RANA, congratulated Aditya on his achievement and expressed his delight that the exceptional scholar plans to work on regeneration strategies for farmers. As a former representative and senior official at the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. Adhikarya is particularly pleased that Aditya aims to involve more Gen Z and millennials in developing plans for a Renaissance movement that could revolutionize sustainable agricultural development in Indonesia.
He is also grateful to Cornell University, especially its Department of Global Development, for selecting an impressive and outstanding RANA 2024 Winner.
About R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award (RANA)
The R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award (RANA) Scholarship Program, from 2020 to early 2024, has 3 Winners at Stanford Univ., 3 Winners at Cornell Univ., and 4 Winners at the East-West Center (EWC).
RANA is a token of appreciation for individuals who have demonstrated innovative, ‘niche’, thinking in their studies and careers. Awarded annually since 2020, it enables young visionaries with a learning-oriented growth mindset to study at one of three world-class educational institutions in the United States: the East-West Center (EWC), Stanford University, and Cornell University.
These institutions were part of Dr. Ronny Adhikarya’s academic journey. He attended Cornell for his Master’s degree and Stanford for his Doctoral degree, obtaining a fellowship from each university. Dr. Adhikarya then worked as a research staff member at the EWC before continuing his extensive career in international development assistance. Over more than 50 years, he worked at the World Bank in Washington D.C., USA, the United Nations/FAO in Rome, Italy, and with many well-respected institutions in other countries.
Dr. Adhikarya and his wife, Mee-Ching, offer RANA in gratitude and see it as their contribution to the education sector globally, especially in Indonesia. Kiroyan Partners (KP), a leading Public Affairs consulting firm, has agreed to partner in this endeavor by providing support to coordinate and implement the communication, publicity, and marketing activities of RANA, as well as coordinating and maintaining the internal communication platform for the RANA’s International Selection Committee (ISC) members. KP believes this initiative aligns with its commitment to support human capital development in Indonesia.
More information on RANA Prospectus can be found here.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Verlyana “Veve” Hitipeuw (veve.hitipeuw@kiroyan-partners.com) and/or
Made Intan Iswari Satria (intan.iswari@kiroyan-partners.com)
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DOWNLOAD FILE
RANA 2024 Winner Press Release (English)
(download)
Siaran Pers Pemenang RANA 2024 (Bahasa Indonesia)
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