Dr. Sulthon Sjahril Sabaruddin is 2014 Fulbright Visiting Scholar who conducted research at Department of Economics, Pomona College & Claremont Graduate University.

I am one of the proud Indonesian scholar to receive a Fulbright Senior Research Program 2014/2015. In this program, I have an opportunity to become a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the one of most prestigious U.S. national liberal arts colleges, Pomona College. I am very fortunate to collaborate with Stephen V. Marks, Elden Smith Professor of Economics, an expert in Indonesian trade policy. Our research project under the theme “Towards Enhancing Trade Potentials between Indonesia and the Latin American and Caribbean Countries: Export Competitiveness and Partial Equilibrium Analysis”. The study among others uses the SMART Model, international trade indicators and mappings, and qualitative political-economic analysis.

Photo 1: First Meeting with Prof. Stephen V. Marks in Jakarta Prior Leaving to the United States (2014)

As an Indonesian citizen currently pursuing careers as a diplomat and scholar, it is already become my full responsibility to be able to communicate and share to all people throughout the world on understandings and enhance awareness about my country, Indonesia. As for my scholarly research, the ultimate objective is to enhance awareness and understandings on Indonesia-Latin American relations. Indonesia-Latin American relations have always been a challenge for both sides and despite some initiatives made by both sides, less attention still prevail in many occasions. As my scholarly interest, it is my strong duty to help achieve towards strengthening Indonesia-Latin American relations among others through strong scholarly thoughts. My thoughts and analysis could certainly trigger different views to many stakeholders in which some may agree or disagree, but at the end, this study conducted is for the betterment of towards building a strong Indonesia-Latin American relations. I firmly believe that the potential is there, Indonesia can be the right future partner for Latin American countries, if there are strong political willingness from both sides.

Photo 2: Office Space at Crookshank Hall, Pomona College (2015)

To enrich my research substance, I also have opportunities to participate as paper presenters in several academic conferences including Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies (PCCLAS): Latin America and the World: Exchanges and Encounters, California State University Los Angeles, and L.A. Policy Symposium 2015, Pardee RAND Graduate School, RAND Corporation. To dissemminate and enhance awareness and understandings on Indonesia-Latin American relations, I have opportunities to become a guest speaker including the Spring 2015 Speaker Series: Latin America and the Border, The Center for Latin American and Border Studies (CLABS) and the Population Economics class by Regents Professor Jim Peach, Department of Economics, International Business and Applied Statistics, New Mexico State University; the Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies (PCCLAS) Lecture Series, entitled “Indonesian Foreign Policy towards Latin America” California State University Los Angeles; and the Oldenborg Luncheon Colloquium (OLC) entitled “Indonesian Latin American Relations: Partnership for a Better Future”, Pomona College.

Photo 3: Paper Presenter at the Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies: Latin America and the World: Exchanges and Encounters

California State University Los Angeles (2015)

For the guest talk at the New Mexico State University, I have been fortunate to receive the Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) to support this visiting lecture program. For the talk, I raised a theme about “An Overview on Indonesia-Latin American Relations” at the Center for Latin American and Border Studies (CLABS) and “An Overview of Indonesian Diaspora in Latin America” for the Population Economics course at the Department of Economics, International Business and Applied Statistics. During the visit, I have the opportunity to have luncheon and dinners and meet including with Associate Provost, Head of the Department of History, the Director of the Office of National Scholarships and International Education, and several economics professors at the New Mexico State University. In the last day, I was able to visit and meet with several faculties at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP). The opportunity to visit NMSU and UTEP is a very invaluable experience not only to share and enhance awareness about Indonesia in the United States but most importantly is also an opportunity to establish networks and friends particularly U.S. experts and practitioners who share similar research interests.

Photo 4: Guest Speaker for the Spring 2015 Speaker Series: Latin America and the Border, The Center for Latin American and Border Studies (CLABS),

New Mexico State University (2015)

Apart from conducting the research related works, he also participated the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program and Digital Learning Lab Workshops organized by the Claremont Graduate University and the Library Workshops organized by the Claremont Colleges Library. Further, he does also audit and visit certain classes, seminars and conferences at the Claremont Colleges. He considers all of these activities as part of his capacity development program to ultimately be an excellent scholar. The Claremont Colleges campus have excellent teaching and research facilities that strongly support my scholar activities on campus.

Photo 5: Preparing Future Faculty Program, Claremont Graduate University (2015)

 Photo 6: Claremont Colleges Library (2015)

During the sidelines, I do enjoy participate the Indonesian table program at the Oldenborg, Pomona College; socialize and participate the Indonesian communities in Claremont Colleges; and write short articles and academic papers based on my own research interest areas. I am very fortunate to bring my family, wife and a two years old daughter to the United States and able to travel among others to Los Angeles, Las Cruces, and El Paso. For me, the opportunity given to be a visiting scholar is not only invaluable for his career back in his home country but most importantly is the opportunity to build long-lasting friends, relations and networks with experts and practitioners in Claremont Colleges as well as outside campus, particularly in his research areas. Thus, this journey is just a beginning.

I really encourage all Indonesian scholars to apply this Fulbright Senior Research Program and make full use of this opportunity not only to further pursue and deepen your research interests but most importantly is the opportunity to build long-lasting friends, relations and networks with the U.S. experts and practitioners during your research stay in the U.S. Last but not least, being a scholar is not simply being a good researcher, a strong teaching skill is also important. Being a visiting scholar in the U.S. also can provide you to update your teaching soft skills which would be invaluable for teachings once return back to Indonesia.

Photo 7: Family Time at the Universal Studios (2015)