At the university

Participants are reminded that the dress code at Indonesian universities is quite strict:

  • Men – Collared shirts (polo shirt); long pants; sandals with strap at back; closed shoes or sneakers.
  • Women – Long pants or jeans; three quarter pants; shirts/blouses (non see-through); collared shirts; closed shoes or sneakers; sandals with strap at the back. Skirts are okay but below the knee will attract less attention. Avoid showing mid-riff, bare shoulders or too much neckline.

Birkenstocks (and similar branded sandals) are not allowed at universities unless they have straps at the back.

At the work placement

Overall, business/ office attire is the way to go (except for those who will be undertaking their placements at Metro TV).

For everyone, it’s worth having a formal jacket or blazer on stand-by in case you need to go to an interview, business meeting, or high level donor meeting (e.g. with the World Bank or UN) at short notice where a more formal dress code is required. And of course it goes without saying that you’re in a workplace, so no flip flops at any time.

For women:

  • Smart pants and smart collared tops/ shirts are acceptable.
  • Normal office attire is fine, but nothing too racy- skirts are okay as long as they cover the knee.
  • In general, short sleeves are okay in the office. However, as an indication, rarely will you see Indonesian women wearing a sleeveless top or short dress in the workplace.
  • Above all, make sure your clothes are light as Jakarta is hot.
  • Shoes: closed-toe shoes or nice sandals are probably your best bet because of the heat.  Also, tucking a pashmina or a lightweight scarf in your bag is a good trick for when you need to cover your arms or shoulders at more conservative venues (e.g. the Indonesian Islamic Council or other Islamic organisations where most women will have their arms covered). You can buy these very cheaply (around $5 – $10) in Jakarta if you don’t have one already.

For men:

  • Shorts are not acceptable in the office – please wear long pants at all times, and closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
  • A short- or long-sleeved collared shirt will do the trick at most placements.
  • T-shirts are not acceptable.