Very happy to meet with Ibu Sinta Nuriyah Wahid at the beginning of the new year, an outstanding example of leadership, wisdom and integrity but also the kindest person you can imagine.

On a lighter note: I have never before seen three ‘orchid’s of the night’ next to each other. ‘Widjaya Kusuma’ in Indonesian. They bloom only at night and only one night.

Former Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Kwik Kian Gie, passed (90years). A wonderful man, sharp mind, Alumni of Erasmus University, fluent in Dutch. I remember him particularly as the founding father of the ‘Studeren in Nederland (StuNed)’ scholarship programme managed by Nuffic

Over the past week, we celebrated 40 years of the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID). Happy to catch up with many old friends.

Paid a farewell visit today to Indonesian Ambassador Mayerfas and Education Attache Agus Setiabudi. Thanks for many years of good collaboration with KBRI Den Haag!

Be prepared for what’s coming…

Takeaways from Stella Christie, IND Dep Minister for Higher Education: BRIN’s role will be limited to financing and executing research; new research initiatives to be shaped around priority themes, such as food security-renewable energy; continued investment in excellent new schools and universities