Supporting Library Innovation Abroad: Mega Subramaniam’s Fulbright Journey in Indonesia
Follow updates from Dr. Mega Subramaniam's Fulbright scholarship advancing library education, digital inclusion and international collaboration
Dr. Subramaniam and the students in Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM’s) Master of Information Management (MIP) program
From February to August 2026, Dr. Mega Subramaniam is serving as a Fulbright Scholar at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Supported by the Fulbright Scholar Program (external link, opens in a new tab) and the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (external link, opens in a new tab), she is engaging deeply with the library and information science (LIS) community across Indonesia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. Subramaniam’s work focuses on delivering professional development for librarians and library educators, with a particular emphasis on how the field can better serve communities facing barriers to information access. In parallel, she is working to strengthen LIS education and practice in both nations by fostering the exchange of best practices and integrating vital global perspectives into U.S. LIS curricula.
Below, follow along with Dr. Subramaniam’s journey through a compilation of her updates and dispatches from the field.
February/March 2026: Arrival in Indonesia and Cultural Immersion📍
Dr. Subramaniam began her Fulbright residency in Indonesia with key meetings at the National Library, followed by orientation with the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) and a smooth transition to Yogyakarta, where she launched academic collaborations, language study, and her research semester with support from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students.
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March 2026: Teaching at UGM and Exploring Yogyakarta’s Heritage📍
By her third week at UGM, Dr. Subramaniam was already actively engaged in Yogyakarta’s academic community as a guest lecturer and thesis mentor, while also deepening her understanding of Indonesia’s cultural heritage through visits to Prambanan and Borobudur.
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April 6, 2026: Institutional Engagements in Surabaya and a Trek to Mount Bromo📍
With support from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Subramaniam expanded her Fulbright work in Surabaya by speaking with librarians and LIS students about AI, digital literacy, and the evolving role of LIS professionals, while also visiting the East Java Provincial Library and Archives Agency and Mount Bromo.
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April 19, 2026: Connecting at the Fulbrighters Conference in Jakarta📍
At the AMINEF mid-year Fulbrighters Conference, Dr. Subramaniam exchanged experiences with fellow grantees and participated in cultural workshops, including making jamu, a traditional Indonesian herbal drink.
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Late April 2026: Regional Outreach at Nanyang Technological University Singapore📍
Extending her Fulbright impact beyond Indonesia, Dr. Subramaniam visited Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to present her “Ready NOW” research and exchange ideas on crisis response, student well-being, and AI literacy initiatives.
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Early May 2026: AI Literacy Lectures and Cultural Hospitality in Vietnam📍
Continuing her regional outreach, Dr. Subramaniam traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to deliver two AI literacy lectures at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, where she was warmly welcomed with a musical opening and thoughtful hospitality from her hosts and interpreter.
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May 11, 2026: Collaborative Academic Seminars in Melbourne, Australia📍
In Melbourne, Dr. Subramaniam presented on Marylanders Online and her “Ready NOW” research, connected with scholars focused on information behavior and marginalized communities, and explored new collaborative opportunities with colleagues across several universities.
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May 23, 2026: Keynote Address at the National Library of Indonesia📍
Dr. Subramaniam marked the 46th anniversary of Indonesia’s National Library by delivering a keynote on Marylanders Online and digital equity, leading a workshop for library staff, and speaking with regional school librarians at Universitas YARSI.
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June 19, 2026: Educational Summits and Cultural Heritage in Bali📍
After four months in Indonesia, Dr. Subramaniam traveled to Bali to participate in academic events at the SEA Libraries of the Future Summit and Universitas Udayana while also exploring the island’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions through local customs, historic sites, and a traditional Kecak performance at Uluwatu Temple.