Hi everyone,
I'm applying for the Chevening scholarship this year and so far I've drafted this one *sigh* out of the four essays I need to write. Any comments, suggestions, and corrections (especially on grammar) will be highly appreciated. Many thanks!
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Outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals, considering how these relate to UK priorities in your country.
Upon completion of postgraduate study, my immediate plan is to pass the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (UN YPP) examination in Public Information job family to contribute in increasing the number of young Indonesians serving as international civil servants in the UN system.
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, remains under-represented at the UN. The latest personnel statistics from the UN System Chief Executive Boards for Coordination (UNSCEB) reveals that only 0.4 per cent (324) among 84,069 UN staff members as at 31 December 2013 were Indonesian nationals. Almost three quarters of them were serving in the General Service and related categories, the positions not responsible for taking decisions and passing recommendations.
By contrast, in the same time frame the UK had 2,455 of its nationals working for the UN, more than two thirds of whom were employed in the Professional and higher categories. This is ironic especially if we take into account the fact that the total population of the UK is almost four times less than Indonesia's.
Such under-representation definitely harms Indonesia's progress toward social and economic development. Data from the UN Asia-Pacific Regional Millennium Development Goals Report 2014/2015 indicates that Indonesia has failed to attain four out of the eight goals. If Indonesia is to achieve better success in implementing the ambitious 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, the country has to boost its representation at the UN, ensuring that it has a loud enough voice to be heard. After all, who understand the cultural, social, and contextual intricacy of a nation better than its own statesmen?
Joining the UN will provide me the opportunity to work in an international setting alongside distinguished intellectuals of diverse backgrounds, equipping me with an indispensable understanding of the various perspectives and factors at play when rising to the global challenge. I will also be able to capture lessons learnt and best practices that can be transferred or adjusted to better address social and development issues facing communities across Indonesia.
Being aware that communication plays a vital role in the pursuit of good governance, in the long run I plan on becoming a Presidential Special Staff on Political Communication. For that, after five to seven years with the UN I will apply for a position at the Indonesia's Ministry of State Secretariat with a focus on providing technical and administrative assistance concerning communication with the press and media as well as drafting key documents for the President and Vice President.
I see myself devising communication strategies to influence opinion, attitude, and behaviour change among various stakeholders to support governance reform objectives and help shaping a better Indonesia, propelling the people and the country toward a common goal of dignity and prosperity for all.
I'm applying for the Chevening scholarship this year and so far I've drafted this one *sigh* out of the four essays I need to write. Any comments, suggestions, and corrections (especially on grammar) will be highly appreciated. Many thanks!
***
Outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals, considering how these relate to UK priorities in your country.
Upon completion of postgraduate study, my immediate plan is to pass the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (UN YPP) examination in Public Information job family to contribute in increasing the number of young Indonesians serving as international civil servants in the UN system.
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, remains under-represented at the UN. The latest personnel statistics from the UN System Chief Executive Boards for Coordination (UNSCEB) reveals that only 0.4 per cent (324) among 84,069 UN staff members as at 31 December 2013 were Indonesian nationals. Almost three quarters of them were serving in the General Service and related categories, the positions not responsible for taking decisions and passing recommendations.
By contrast, in the same time frame the UK had 2,455 of its nationals working for the UN, more than two thirds of whom were employed in the Professional and higher categories. This is ironic especially if we take into account the fact that the total population of the UK is almost four times less than Indonesia's.
Such under-representation definitely harms Indonesia's progress toward social and economic development. Data from the UN Asia-Pacific Regional Millennium Development Goals Report 2014/2015 indicates that Indonesia has failed to attain four out of the eight goals. If Indonesia is to achieve better success in implementing the ambitious 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, the country has to boost its representation at the UN, ensuring that it has a loud enough voice to be heard. After all, who understand the cultural, social, and contextual intricacy of a nation better than its own statesmen?
Joining the UN will provide me the opportunity to work in an international setting alongside distinguished intellectuals of diverse backgrounds, equipping me with an indispensable understanding of the various perspectives and factors at play when rising to the global challenge. I will also be able to capture lessons learnt and best practices that can be transferred or adjusted to better address social and development issues facing communities across Indonesia.
Being aware that communication plays a vital role in the pursuit of good governance, in the long run I plan on becoming a Presidential Special Staff on Political Communication. For that, after five to seven years with the UN I will apply for a position at the Indonesia's Ministry of State Secretariat with a focus on providing technical and administrative assistance concerning communication with the press and media as well as drafting key documents for the President and Vice President.
I see myself devising communication strategies to influence opinion, attitude, and behaviour change among various stakeholders to support governance reform objectives and help shaping a better Indonesia, propelling the people and the country toward a common goal of dignity and prosperity for all.
