COMPLETION REPORTThe Evaluation of Japanese Public Diplomacy in Indonesia: Case of Academic Exchange Programs between
Japan and Indonesia
Dr. Ahmad Safril Mubah
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
Universitas Airlangga
The objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation of Japanese public diplomacy in Indonesia. In orderto reach the goal, this study raises two research questions: (1) What are the problems and challenges faced by
Japan in implementing academic exchange programs in Indonesia? (2) To what extent academic exchange
programs could improve the Japan-Indonesia bilateral relations? Focusing on academic exchange programs
between Japan and Indonesia as a case study, this study links the connection of two variables: (1) the Japanesepublic diplomacy as independent variable, and (2) the Japan-Indonesia relations as dependent variable. Therefore,
the Japan-Indonesia relations will be explained through the implementation of academic exchange programs andits impacts on both countries relations.
Some problems in academic exchange programs are as follows. First, the number of Japanese and Indonesian
people participating the programs is unbalance. Fewer Japanese visiting Indonesia than Indonesian visiting Japancauses Japanese values are not fully promoted in Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesian students living in Japan do nothave a will to introduce Japan to Indonesian society after they are coming back to their home country. Second,even though Japanese government or Japanese foundations has awarded scholarships to Indonesian students andscholars, but some of them perceive that there is Japan’s interest to invest its soft power in Indonesia. This
perception is common in the mind of those who have arts and humanities rather than sciences academic
background. Consequently, they study in Japan just for getting degree, ignoring the goal of academic exchange todeepen Japan-Indonesia relations.
Hence, Japanese government faces following challenges. First, involving more Japanese people in academic
exchange programs. Japan needs not only to invite Indonesian people to participate academic programs in thecountry, but also should send its citizens to Indonesia. Second, giving understanding to all scholarship awardees
about the strategic role of academic exchanges as a bridge for enhancing people-to-people interaction as well asJapan-Indonesia relations. Japan needs to maintain its connection with scholarship awardees while they are
studying in Japan and after graduating from their degree.
The failure to solve above problems and to tackle above challenges affects steady development on JapanIndonesia relations. Indeed, academic exchange programs cause both countries relations is improving, but it is not
significant, mainly on state level. On grass root level, common understanding is felt by participants of the academic
exchanges only, not spread to the others who have never experienced living in both countries. Therefore, thedevelopment of Japan-Indonesia relations, particularly in academic exchange programs, is understood just bylimited people. It does not have any link with economic and trade relations, aspect that is mostly concerned by bothsides.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
June 27-29, 2017, Kyoto International House, Kyoto, 2017 International Conference on Information and SocialSciences, “Evaluation of Japanese Public Diplomacy: Case of Academic Exchanges Programs between Japanand Indonesia”, Ahmad Safril Mubah.
October 27-28, 2017, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, Kaohsiung, 2017 Wenzao International
Conference on Southeast Asian Studies, “Evaluation of Japanese Public Diplomacy: Case of Academic
Exchanges Programs between Japan and Indonesia”, Ahmad Safril Mubah.

Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Mubah, Ahmad Safril, 2018. “Academic Exchanges as a Tool of Japanese Public Diplomacy in Indonesia,”
Global & Policy, Vol. 6, No. 1.

Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
Mubah, Ahmad Safril, 2017. Diplomasi Publik Jepang. Surabaya: Cakra Studi Global Strategis.