Photograph of scuba diver at the Liberty Shipwreck in Indonesia

Underwater cultural heritage program

Collaborative approaches to capacity building in Indonesian maritime archaeology

Interested in learning more about Indonesia’s rich underwater cultural heritage? Apply now for an exciting new online short course on Indonesian maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage.

Through a series of online modules, presentations, roundtables and tutorials, you will develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of managing and interpreting underwater cultural heritage in an Indonesian context. Featuring leading maritime heritage experts and practitioners from Australia and Indonesia, the course will:

  • introduce you to key ideas and concepts in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage, including the methods used by archaeologists to investigate shipwrecks and other underwater cultural heritage, and the archaeological principles underpinning these approaches;
  • examine international and domestic regulatory frameworks relating to underwater cultural heritage, including the 2001 UNESCO convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage;
  • consider the state and scope of current maritime archaeological research in Indonesia; and
  • take a close look at the case study of HMAS Perth (I), an Australian warship in Indonesian waters.

Through this course, you will also complete a small research project relevant to your studies and area of interest, which you will present to the group. You will be supported by course leaders to develop and refine your research question, methodology, data collection and theoretical framework.

Subject to health guidelines, the course will feature optional site visits in Jakarta/Banten; Yogyakarta; and Makassar. Participants will receive a stipend to cover out of pocket expenses associated with the site visit(s). 

Note that this course will be conducted in English and Bahasa Indonesia. Simultaneous translation will be provided so you do not have to speak English to participate.

Participants will receive a certificate from the University of Sydney (subject to completion of all modules and the research project).

 

Program information

Applications are now closed.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application on Monday 22 February 2021.

The course will run in an online format (via Zoom), across six modules:

  • Saturday 13 March 2021 15:30-17:30 (WIB) / 16:30-18:30 (WITA)
    Module One: Course Introduction and Orientation
  • Saturday 20 March 2021 15:30-17:30 (WIB) / 16:30-18:30 (WITA)
    Module Two: Introduction to Maritime Archaeology
  • Saturday 27 March 2021 15:30-17:30 (WIB) / 16:30-18:30 (WITA)
    Module Three: The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
  • Saturday 3 April 2021 15:30-17:30 (WIB) / 16:30-18:30 (WITA)
    Module Four: Managing and Interpreting Indonesia’s Underwater Cultural Heritage
  • Saturday 10 April 2021 15:30-17:30 (WIB) / 16:30-18:30 (WITA)
    Module Five: Case Study: HMAS Perth (I), an Australian Warship in Indonesian Waters
  • 17 April 2021, time tbc
    Optional site visit
  • 30 April 2021
    Research projects due
  • Saturday 15 May 2021 15:30-17:30 (WIB) / 16:30-18:30 (WITA)
    Module 6: Course Wrap-Up and Conclusion

Disclaimer: Please note that this schedule is correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.

To participate in this short course, you must:

  • be an Indonesian undergraduate student currently enrolled at Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Hasanuddin or Universitas Gadjah Mada (preference will be given to students studying history, archaeology or heritage-related courses);
  • confirm your availability to participate in all course modules (see Key Dates and Course Schedule);
  • join the course’s private Facebook group;
  • contribute as an active member of the cohort by participating in group discussions and tutorials; and
  • agree that your research project may be used for advertising, publicity or other online materials. 

We encourage and value the participation of students from various backgrounds, including those with accessibility requirements and / or with nursing responsibilities.

Applications are now closed.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application on Monday 22 February 2021.

Please email any queries about the program and the application process to sseac@sydney.edu.au.

‘Collaborative Approaches to Capacity Building in Indonesian Maritime Archaeology’ is a collaborative project between the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre at the University of Sydney, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (Serang), Universitas Indonesia (Jakarta), Universitas Hasanuddin (Makassar) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (Yogyakarta), supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This project demonstrates Australia’s commitment to working together with Indonesia to manage shared heritage, and builds on activities funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Maritime Capacity Building Initiative focusing on HMAS Perth (I). By prioritising tertiary students, this project seeks to engage with the next generation of Indonesian maritime heritage practitioners and archaeologists, thereby creating new and sustainable pathways for collaboration and engagement between the two countries.