The University is helping two Indonesian universities who lost almost one in ten of their staff restore their devastating loss of research and teaching expertise. Leeds students are also raising funds to rebuild a primary school destroyed by the tsunami on December 26.

Leeds graduate Dr Usman Kasim from Universitas Syiah Kuala (UNSYIAH) lost his wife and three of his four children in the disaster. He is currently spending a month at Leeds helping to set up the British universities’ scholarship scheme for higher education institutions in Aceh, Indonesia.

Thirteen universities including Leeds have united to offer funded MA scholarships to the Institut Agama Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry (IAIN) and UNSYIAH in Banda Aceh. The universities lost not only staff and students, but suffered severe damage to their infrastructure and even now have only basic communication links.

“The offer of scholarships is very helpful, and we hope those who come to the UK will gain experience to replace that of the colleagues we lost,” said Dr Usman (pictured). In particular, he has been working with the international office to facilitate communication between the UK consortium and the two Indonesian universities.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur said: “It is very pleasing to see so many British universities working together to help their colleagues in higher education in Indonesia. The two universities affected, IAIN and UNYSIAH, urgently need training opportunities for their junior staff and this scholarship scheme will make a real difference to them. I am very grateful to all the British Universities concerned for their rapid and generous response, to the British Council and to the British and Indonesian Governments for helping to make this scheme happen."

Leeds’ Indonesian students association hopes to rebuild a primary school destroyed by the tsunami by raising £22,000. Although Aceh children officially returned to school a month after the disaster, many still do not have a school to attend or are studying with very basic facilities. The appeal hopes to rebuild a school in Banda Aceh with five classrooms, offices for teachers, and a water pump and tower.

Donations can be made with the form enclosed with the June issue of the Reporter, or at the international office or Leeds university union reception, bar and shops.

For more information on the scholarship appeal contact Hywel Coleman in the international office on h.coleman@adm.leeds.ac.uk.