In brief
At the Jakarta expo, Indonesian students showcased strong interest in studying in China, with 3,000 attendees and 21 partner universities, including Peking and Tsinghua. Young learners like 16‑year‑old Calysta Wijaya and 15‑year‑old Richard Dharma Hungnata outlined future plans, while teacher Zheng Wenting noted rising enrollment. The event also featured success story Dexter Godwin, an Indonesian petroleum engineer who studied in China.
In Jakarta on Sunday, the 2026 Indonesia HSK Study in China and Career Expo gathered about 3,000 Indonesian students, parents, and language learners, and highlighted 21 Chinese universities including Peking University and Tsinghua University.
Among the crowd was 16‑year‑old Calysta Jacqueline Wijaya, a high‑school first‑year who has been studying Chinese for 11 years and is preparing for the HSK exam. “I want to study pharmacy in China,” Calysta told Xinhua, adding that she hopes to bring professional knowledge back to Indonesia to help more people.
"I want to study pharmacy in China," Calysta said.
Calysta’s 15‑year‑old classmate, Richard Dharma Hungnata, has also been learning Chinese since primary school and plans to study engineering. After visiting Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities, he says the experience impressed him with China’s development. He says he will take the HSK after his second year of high school to strengthen his university applications.
Zheng Wenting, a Mandarin teacher who heads a language centre in Indonesia, noted the growing enthusiasm: Xinhua quoted her saying that more Indonesian parents are now interested in having their children learn Chinese, and that enrollment at her institution grew from about 50 students per intake a decade ago to nearly 500 today.
Zheng Wenting reflected that "learning Chinese characters and pinyin in primary school has become an integral part of educational progress for many Indonesian youths," adding that the language opens opportunities for studying in China and pursuing careers abroad.
The expo also featured a booth from China University of Petroleum, where Dexter Godwin, an Indonesian graduate who earned a petroleum engineering degree in China, spoke about his experience. Dexter explained Xinhua that he studied in China before returning to Indonesia to work in the industry, citing the academic resources and practical training he received during his studies.
Dexter Godwin’s success story underscored the real‑world benefits of Chinese language proficiency and demonstrated how the education trajectory from high school to university can culminate in professional roles back home.
Attendance numbers highlighted the event’s impact: Xinhua reported around 3,000 visitors, including students, parents, and language learners, and note that 21 Chinese universities represented the breadth of opportunities. The expo’s map of universities spread from large research institutions to specialized technical schools.
The gathering showed a broader trend: Indonesian youths using Chinese language skills to widen study options and secure career prospects, reflecting a growing partnership between Indonesia and China in higher education and industry.
