In brief
The 2026 HSK study and career expo in Jakarta drew about 3,000 students and parents, showcasing 21 Chinese universities. Indonesian students like 16‑year‑old Calysta Wijaya plan to study abroad while graduates such as Dexter Godwin illustrate successful career paths. Chinese language instruction now plays a pivotal role in shaping future educational and professional choices.
On Sunday, the 2026 Indonesia HSK study and career expo in Jakarta attracted roughly 3,000 Indonesian students, Chinese‑language learners and parents, offering information on study opportunities at 21 Chinese universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University.
Among those in the crowds was 16‑year‑old Calysta Jacqueline Wijaya, a high‑school sophomore who has been learning Chinese for eleven years. Calysta told Xinhua,
I want to study pharmacy in China… I hope to bring professional knowledge back to Indonesia to help more people.
The 15‑year‑old classmate, Richard Dharma Hungnata, who first studied Chinese in primary school, already speaks the language fluently. He says the visits he made to Beijing and Shanghai impressed him with China’s development and that he plans to study engineering after he finishes high school. Richard intends to take the HSK exam after his second year of high school and hopes a higher score will strengthen his applications.
Their teacher, Zheng Wenting, who also heads a Mandarin education centre in Indonesia, observes a steady rise in interest. Zheng told Xinhua that more Indonesian parents want their children to learn Chinese, and the number of students aiming to study in China has grown. Enrollment at her institution has increased from about 50 students per intake a decade ago to nearly 500 today.
The expo’s booths showcased a range of university programmes and career prospects. In addition to academic offerings, a stand of the Beijing‑based China University of Petroleum highlighted the experience of Indian graduate Dexter Godwin. Godwin earned a degree in petroleum engineering in China and now works in that field in Indonesia, illustrating that Chinese language proficiency can translate into concrete career opportunities.
Chinese language education has moved beyond the classroom, becoming an integral part of many Indonesian youths’ academic journey. The event emphasized that, for some students, Chinese proficiency is not merely a means to access higher education abroad but also a gateway to professional networks, scholarships and industry partnerships spanning Indonesia and China.
HSK, the Chinese Proficiency Test, serves as a benchmark for admission to state‑run and private universities in China. The expo offered test preparation resources and guidance on licensing requirements, helping students map out study pathways and to identify relevant scholarship opportunities.
The variety of universities presented—spanning renowned institutions such as Peking University and Tsinghua University, to specialized schools—provides a breadth of options for Indonesian students across disciplines such as pharmacy, engineering, business and the humanities.
Officials at the event noted that the growth in Chinese language programmes mirrors broader trends in Indonesia’s education system, which seeks to broaden international collaborations and to diversify students’ academic options beyond the traditional Anglophone route.
Parents at the expo engaged with counsellors who explain how a strong HSK score can open doors to funded exchanges, work‑study schemes and post‑graduate opportunities in China.
The engagement between Indonesian students and Chinese universities appears to benefit both sides. From the Chinese side, the universities are looking to recruit international talent and to expand their global footprint in Southeast Asia. For Indonesian students, the opportunity to study in China adds a new horizon to their education and career prospects.
Looking ahead, the event and its participants anticipate continued expansion of Chinese language learning initiatives, coupled with institutional partnerships that will further the cultural and academic bridge between Indonesia and China.
