Contact :
World Bank Office
Jakarta Stock Exchange Building
Tower 2, 13 Floor,Jl. Jend Sudirman In Jakarta – Randy Salim
Tel :(62 21) 5299-3259
rsalim1@worldbank.org
Indonesian leadership of GDLN leads to new era of distance learning and knowledge sharing JAKARTA, July 9, 2008 – Indonesia’s Ministry of National Education today opened up its ever expanding Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) to the world, in an ambitious effort to bridge the knowledge gap and bring Indonesia closer to the world through video-conferencing technology. GDLN Indonesia began as a modest network of four universities in 2002 with support from the World Bank. Through a strategic merger with the Indonesia Higher Education Network (INHERENT), the network now covers over 220 public and private universities and can also tap into distance learning opportunities from anywhere in Southeast Asia. “Indonesian education is entering a very exciting period as there is virtually no limit to the learning and knowledge-sharing opportunities offered through this network,” said Minister for National Education, Bambang Sudibyo at the launch of the scaled-up GDLN Indonesia. “ I am confident that over time GDLN Indonesia will grow stronger and wider, and will play a significant role in supporting the development of not only higher education, but also other sectors by connecting any corner of Indonesia to the world and bring the world to any corner of Indonesia.” The first incarnation of GDLN Indonesia was a linkage between the Jakarta-based GDLN centre at the University of Indonesia to three regional university centers, representing the western part of Indonesia (University of Riau), central (Udayana University) and the eastern region (Hasanuddin University). After joining forces with INHERENT in December 2007, GDLN Indonesia now covers 82 public universities, 140 private universities, 12 regional offices of Coordinator for Private Higher Education Institutions, and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization – Regional Open Learning Center (SEAMOLEC). “The World Bank would like to thank Indonesia for the progressive measures it has taken to expand GDLN Indonesia,” said Peter Stephens, Director of Communications for the East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank.“We believe the GDLN is a powerful development tool and are committed to continuing to nurture its development.” GDLN Indonesia is designed as a scale free network to anticipate and accommodate the growth of the network across the country. In the existing network, 30 Mbps fiber optics serve as the connection backbone of most of the major islands while Papua and the Moluccas are connected through2 Mbps VSAT. Since joining forces with INHERENT, GDLN Indonesia has hosted many important dialogues, learning programs and conferences/seminars involving government officials, academicians, practitioners and private sectors both from Indonesia and overseas. To learn more about the World Bank’s support for Indonesia visit: www.worldbank.org/id To learn more about the Global Development Learning Network visit: www.gdln.org - | 
RSS