LPDP Committed to Funding 280 UIII Doctoral Students

August 16, 2023 Contributor: Achmad Jatnika


Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) and Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) have agreed to cooperate in providing scholarships for completing studies at UIII. LPDP is committed to funding 280 new UIII doctoral program students worldwide by utilizing funding from the Indonesian government through the Endowment Fund managed by LPDP for the next four years.

This agreement was formalized by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Memorandum of Understanding by the Rector of UIII, Prof. Komaruddin Hidayat; LPDP Director, Dwi Larso Ph.D.; and Vice-Rector for Academic, Student Affairs, and Human Resources, Bahrul Hayat, Ph.D. on Tuesday 15 August 2023 at the UIII campus, Depok.

The LPDP Director revealed that this was the first scholarship initiated by LPDP aimed at international students (WNA). "UIII is ready for the doctoral program, which we can then support with LPDP. So, we at the LPDP program are to provide scholarships for foreigners for the first time initiated by LPDP," he said in his remarks.

He added that Indonesia must play at the world level, and with UIII being a National Strategic Project (PSN), LPDP must continue to provide full support so that UIII can run according to its vision as a global international university.

Meanwhile, Prof. Komaruddin explained that the state would obtain two advantages with the support provided by the LPDP—the first advantage- is to strengthen the UIII, which is by international standards.

Second, by inviting foreign professors and lecturers to this campus, it is economically cheaper because the velocity of money is in Indonesia. It's different from how we fund Indonesian students abroad, whose money circulation is in the study destination countries of Indonesian students.

“With the LPDP supporting us, there are two advantages. The first advantage is to strengthen this international standard campus. Second, they can invite foreign professors and lecturers here. And economically, it's cheaper because the money is circulating here. Meanwhile, when donating, the money goes there," he explained.

However, foreign programs also need to continue to be carried out to improve the quality that exists in the country so that it can increase Indonesia's scientific sky. "So foreign programs continue to be carried out to improve quality, but domestic ones are important because earlier, to increase Indonesia's scientific sky, by presenting foreign students, foreign lecturers so that the environment is indeed international," said Prof. Komaruddin.

Vice-Rector for Research, Cooperation, and Community Engagement, Prof. Jamhari, expressed his gratitude for the inauguration of this collaboration. Hopefully, this support will open doors for international students to study on Indonesian campuses. "I hope this can open further scholarship doors for LPDP to provide scholarships to foreign students to study on Indonesian campuses," he concluded.