Jakarta, June 29, 2020 — The International Selection Committee (ISC) of R-Adhikarya’ Niche’ Award (RANA) proudly announces one outstanding winner, Susy Tekunan, to receive a doctoral scholarship in the East-West Center (EWC), University of Hawaii, in September 2020.
Conducted annually, the Award grants its scholarship for potential students at three world-class educational institutions in the United States: the EWC, Stanford University, and Cornell University (plan for late-2021). In its first quarter of 2020, the ISC members had been working on the process of reviewing and evaluating candidates, particularly for the EWC. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1960, the EWC is an independent and not-for-profit organization that conducts multidisciplinary education and research on contemporary issues of significance to the Asia Pacific region and the United States.
Susy Tekunan had a humble beginning, raised by parents who were unable to complete high school education due to economic circumstances. Yet she defied the odds by obtaining two American master’s degrees, one at New York University and an MBA, at Radford University in Virginia. She also has had an impressive academic and professional career as an Award-winning Broadcast Journalists working for the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington D.C. for eight years and her achievements in the VOA live programs. Susy also had an internship at the Asia Society, New York. After 16 years abroad, she returned to Indonesia and has taught and served as Chair of the International Relations Department at Universitas Pelita Harapan.
With her scholarship valued at USD103,000, Tekunan plans to study and conduct research on Chinese Indonesians’ perception of China as their ancestral land and their perception of Indonesia as their homeland. The study is based on the current dynamics of China’s emerging economy as a new global power— politically and economically and may have received mixed repercussions in the perceptions of the Indonesian society.
Her research findings will be the foundation to design and develop ethnic-relations broadcast media programs–through radio and social media platforms in Indonesia. This program is expected to reach multigeneration as well as multiethnicity to encourage civil societies to set aside differences and work together in uniting Indonesia as a stronger nation.
As a RANA recipient, Tekunan will also have the opportunity to do an internship at the Office of the Minority Leader of Hawaii’s House of Representatives, where multiethnic harmony issues have been the major consideration in public policymaking.
“Such learning experience will provide her with insights into policies and programs on migrants’ rights and responsibilities. Hopefully, it will equip Tekunan with additional expertise and enriched understanding in making a difference. Not only for race-relations, but also essential for improving the many different ethnics and religious groups’ relations and harmony in Indonesia, as envisaged in its philosophy of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity),” the Award’s initiator Dr. Ronny Adhikarya said in the written announcement on June 15.
About R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award
The R-Adhikarya “Niche” Award (RANA) is a token of appreciation for individuals who have demonstrated a ‘niche’ of innovative thinking in their studies and careers. Conducted annually, the award grants its scholarship to potential young visionaries with a growth mindset to study at 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 went to each university, Cornell for his master’s degree and Stanford for his Doctoral degree, where he obtained fellowships from the two universities. Dr. Adhikarya later worked as a research staff at the EWC and continued his extensive career in international development assistance in many countries for more than 45 years, among others, at the World Bank, in Washington D.C., USA, and the United Nations/FAO in Rome, Italy.
Dr. Adhikarya and his wife, Mee-Ching, see RANA as their gratitude and contribution to supporting Indonesia’s education sector. 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 International Selection Committee members. K.P. 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)
Download our RANA 2020 Winner Announcement here.
Download our copy of RANA 2020 Winner Press Release here.
