Putera Sampoerna Foundation Managing Director Nenny Soemawinata opined that many expect President Obama's visit will have a positive impact on US - Indonesia relations, since the president spent some of his childhood in Indonesia. Those who are concerned with the education of the country's future leaders, though, hope that young people and educators will be inspired by his struggle to reach the most senior office of the once racially segregated country.

Barack Obama captivated Americans with the promise of "Change We Need" - a promise that eventually propelled him into the White House. The idea of change implies a departure from habits that lead nowhere. In the education sector, while we all that education is vital to building vibrant economies and resilient democracies, many of us continue to understand "education" as only literacy through rote learning.

In the US, it was education that propelled the country to a more egalitarian and prosperous society. The G.I. Bill famously opened up opportunities for millions of Americans, and their children to rise to the highest levels of leadership and productivity. The role of grants, loans and scholarships with federal, state and private support made meritocratic access to education a reality and gave the US the creative and intellectual depth to weather the challenges of the modern world.

Indonesia may not yet have sufficient funds to provide financial support to all qualified students, but to neglect the development of future leaders risks repeating the same leadership cycle typical of the developing world.