Acicis—Australia’s Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies—has launched the call-out for the next iteration of its alumni tracer study. This new round focuses on alumni who completed Acicis programs in 1999 and 2004.
The tracer study offers a detailed view into how past participants in Acicis programs have strengthened academic, career, and Australia–Indonesia relations. The study, run in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, follows alumni cohorts at five-year intervals to chart their long-term outcomes.
Past insights include striking evidence of sustained connections with Indonesia: around two‑thirds of respondents across cohorts reported feeling “somewhat” or “very connected” to the country, and up to one third felt a strong current connection. Between 67% and 90% rated their Acicis experience as relevant to their current occupation, with 39‑56% calling it “very relevant.” Many alumni returned to Indonesia for paid work post-program, and up to a quarter reported using Indonesian in their work or daily life, even on a daily basis.
Acicis promotion materials and alumni platforms routinely showcase graduates who now hold high-level positions in government, academia, business, and diplomacy—many directly shaping Australia-Indonesia engagement. Notably, Acicis alumni have played pivotal roles across sectors, from international development to language education, before, during, and after their programs.
Two such examples are:
(His Excellency) Luke Arnold, former Australian High Commissioner to Brunei, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, from the class of 2000. Arnold says “I undertook my Acicis semester at UGM in Yogyakarta in the second year of my undergraduate studies. Like many Acicis students at the time, I’d started learning Indonesian in high school and then decided to continue it at university—a pathway that Australia needs to urgently re-establish, particularly if we consider the data convincingly presented by Consortium Director (and good friend of mine from our Acicis days!) Liam Prince. After studying Indonesian for six years at high school and a year at university, the natural next step seemed to be to live in Indonesia and take some classes that used Indonesian as the medium for instruction.”
Ashley Breckenridge Assistant Director, International Economy Section, Office of the Chief Economist Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from the class of 2013 who says “I really enjoyed my placement through the program, which was to work with UN Women Indonesia. The opportunity was incredible, and unlike any I could get through an ordinary university program. The team and my supervisors there provided great mentorship and expertise that allowed me to delve into my own projects while contributing to the work of the team.”
The aims of the tracer study are twofold: to quantify the extent of alumni contributions to Australia‑Indonesia relations, and to assess how Acicis programs influence personal, academic, and career trajectories. The research team is led by Associate Professor David Bourchier (UWA), with Liam Prince (Acicis Consortium Director) and Megan McPherson (Acicis Marketing and Engagement Manager).
Participation is voluntary and confidential, with alumni from target year groups invited to complete a brief online survey open until mid‑August 2025.
With nearly 5,000 individuals having participated in Acicis programs since 1995, the tracer study promises valuable insight into how decades of cohorts contribute to long-term outcomes. The results are intended to inform future program design, strengthen alumni engagement, and help universities and policymakers understand the broader influence of immersive international education programs.
The next report is expected later in 2025. In the meantime, Acicis invites alumni from the 1999 and 2004 cohorts to take part in the survey. Contacts and details are available through the Acicis alumni platform , or you can contact the Acicis Secretariat at acicis@acicis.edu.au or on +61 8 6488 6675.
Additional information is available here.
