UNDIP, Germany (03/30) – Anggun Puspitarini Siswanto, ST, PhD, who had just arrived in Germany, experienced a special moment during Eid al-Fitr 1446 H in the city of Aachen, Germany, which was her first time celebrating Eid outside of her home country. Anggun is undergoing a fellowship program at RWTH Aachen University, one of Germany’s leading universities and also the alma mater of Indonesia’s second president, B.J. Habibie.
On the morning of March 30, 2025, Anggun performed Eid al-Fitr prayers at Bendplatz, a field near Aachen’s city park, not far from the campus. Despite the drizzly weather, Anggun felt a unique sense of happiness while performing Eid prayers in Europe. Gratitude welled up in Anggun’s heart, realizing her good fortune to be able to celebrate the holiday abroad.
Anggun, who serves as a lecturer in the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) Study Program at the Vocational School of Diponegoro University (UNDIP), is in Germany to participate in a fellowship program at RWTH Aachen. This program is funded by the Theodore von Kármán Fellowship from RWTH Aachen University, which runs from March 28 to April 12, 2025.
This fellowship is part of the cooperation efforts between the Indonesian and German governments, focusing on improving the quality of young Indonesian lecturers thru scholarships. This collaboration begins with the Circular Economy Scholarship Program (CESP) 2024, a doctoral scholarship program for lecturers at three PTN-BH (ITB, UNDIP, and UGM) organized by RWTH Aachen in collaboration with the German Embassy in Indonesia and the Directorate General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. This program is driven by a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Dikti and RWTH Aachen, and was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Arief Havas Oegroseno, and the Rector of RWTH Aachen, Prof. Ulrich Rüdiger.
Anggun Puspitarini Siswanto, S.T., Ph.D. (UNDIP), was selected as the Country Coordinator along with Anis Apriliawati, S.S., M.Sc. (DIKTI) for this program. Additionally, two UNDIP lecturers, Denis (Faculty of Engineering) and Rizka Amalia (Vocational School), successfully obtained the CESP 2024 and are currently pursuing their doctoral studies at the Institute Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) and the Thermoprocesses and Emission Control in Waste Management and Recycling Teaching and Research Unit (TEER).
The Rector of UNDIP, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E, M.Si, expressed his support for this program, stating that in addition to focusing on doctoral studies, this fellowship program can also enhance the professional capacity of lecturers. The positive impact is very significant, one of which is on recognition in the workplace. This will also contribute to improving the study program’s achievements on several key performance indicators (KPIs),” he said.
During the fellowship program, Anggun was involved in various intensive coordination activities with relevant parties in the implementation of this scholarship program. Anggun is also scheduled to give a lecture on the Circular Economy at RWTH Aachen on April 4, 2025.
It is hoped that this program can foster closer cooperation between universities in Indonesia and Germany and support the smooth running of the scholarship program, which is expected to lead to the establishment of a Circular Economy Center in Indonesia after CESP recipients complete their doctoral studies.
Although there wasn’t any typical Indonesian lontong opor on the dining table during Eid, Anggun celebrated this special moment with her new family in Germany. While her colleagues in Indonesia are still enjoying the Eid holiday, Anggun will resume her academic activities at RWTH Aachen University on Monday, March 31, 2025. Hopefully, this experience can bring a positive impact to UNDIP and inspire more parties to collaborate in the development of science and technology!