On 7 May 2024 we launched our new regional office in Southeast Asia. Nuffic has been present in Indonesia since 1997, but it was time to look further beyond the horizon. After a period of transition, our office in Jakarta, which was formerly known as Nuffic Neso Indonesia,  evolved into Nuffic Southeast Asia, marking a milestone in its journey of fostering knowledge and education relationships between the Netherlands and Southeast Asian countries. The office will now be expanding its regional role beyond Indonesia.

The new regional office is dedicated to enhancing knowledge diplomacy, facilitating trade, and nurturing social and cultural relationships between the Netherlands and Southeast Asian countries. The office will focus on fostering institutional cooperation, managing projects, supporting knowledge infrastructures for investment, organising campaigsn and events and support two way student mobility and scholarship programs between the Netherlands/Europe and Southeast Asia.

Peter van Tuijl, the Director of Nuffic Southeast Asia, expressed his enthusiasm for the organisation’s transition, stating “We are thrilled about this transformative journey from Neso Indonesia to Nuffic Southeast Asia. This evolution signifies not just a change in name but a broader commitment to fostering meaningful knowledge and education relationships in Southeast Asia. We see the Dutch government, the European Union, knowledge institutions as well as the private sector developing an increased focus on Southeast Asia as a region. Our expanded regional role allows us to respond to these developments and contribute to cross-border partnerships and help to create impactful initiatives..”

Besides work on recurring activities such as programme management for the Orange Knowledge Programme, supporting the NL Knowledge House and co-organising WINNER (Week of Indonesia-Netherlands Education and Research), the office will additionally focus on expanding its collaborative efforts with neighbouring countries and strengthening ties between the region and the European Union. The intention is to foster a broader network of educational cooperation, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration within the region and with EU partners. By actively engaging in the region, the office aims to enhance educational systems, promote cross-cultural understanding, and encourage regional harmonisation. “We are excited to strengthen our collaboration with EU programming with programmes like the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package Higher Education (SCOPE HE), this type of collaboration aligns with our commitment to fostering educational partnerships that transcend borders”. – Peter van Tuijl, Director of Nuffic Southeast Asia.