By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter


Various Indonesian groups and mission officials held a “sharing session” recently to address the dilemma of Indonesian parents and students here, giving them more viable options on pursuing a college education.
Faried Riadi, head of the Indonesian Community Association in Qatar, said the activity aims to provide pertinent information that can be used by parents and their children in pursuing college education in Qatar or in other countries.
“We are giving all information about continuing to university in Qatar or in US, Canada, UK, Australia, Malaysia as well as in Indonesia,” he said.
Riadi said with the help of the Qatar Indonesian Student Association, Indonesian college students currently studying in some of the best universities in this country volunteered to become presenters.
The students shared their experience, the pros and cons of pursuing a college education in Qatar, the requirements and how to get scholarships being offered by the schools.
Although limited to only two slots, freshman student Dhika Khaira said her school is offering the Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser scholarship which covers 100% tuition and the cost of books.
“Once you are enrolled, you will also find more scholarships,” she added.
Riadi said they are also educating students on “how to handle culture shock, not only in Indonesia, but also in other countries like the US.”
“Like how to find a mosque for Friday prayer, how to find Halal food, If they don’t have this information then they will think they don’t have any chance of studying like for example in the US and Canada because it’s difficult,” he added. “We are giving them options and comparisons.”
Pursuing college in Qatar is costly, forcing many parents to send their children back home to finish their studies. It is learnt that tuition fees per semester for freshmen is  QR30,000 excluding books and other expenses.
Indonesian Ambassador, Deddy Saiful Hadi expressed his full support to the Indonesian Diaspora in Qatar.
The ambassador said he is hoping that the audience, many of them parents, students, and prospective students, can “utilise the event  to share information and knowledge on choosing a university abroad including Indonesia and Qatar.” He said each country has its own advantages.
Hadi also lauded QISA for helping to organise the event.
An open forum followed the presentations, making the interaction livelier.