Jakarta (ANTARA) - Director General of the Education Fund Management\nAgency (LPDP), Sudarto, revealed that four alumni who were sanctioned\nfor failing to fulfil their obligation to serve in Indonesia have\nreturned funds amounting to IDR 1 billion to IDR 2 billion.<\/p>\n
As of January 31, 2026, eight LPDP scholarship recipients have been\nsanctioned with the requirement to return funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf these eight people, four have fully paid back the funds directly\nto the state. The other four have promised to do so but are paying in\ninstalments,\u201d said Sudarto during a media briefing at the Ministry of\nFinance office, Jakarta, Wednesday (February 25) evening.<\/p>\n
Sudarto explained that the amount of funds to be returned depends on\nthe level of study undertaken. For master\u2019s degrees (S2), the amount to\nbe returned is around IDR 1 billion. Meanwhile, the amount to be\nreturned for doctoral degrees (S3) reaches IDR 2 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis includes those who studied both domestically and abroad,\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
LPDP requires scholarship recipients to return and contribute to the\ncountry in accordance with the stipulated service period. Until 2025,\nthe stipulated service period is twice the duration of study plus one\nyear, or 2N+1. However, LPDP has changed its service period policy to 2N\nthis year.<\/p>\n
The obligation to serve is outlined in the regulations and the\nScholarship Recipient Guidelines, which are part of the agreed\ncontract.<\/p>\n
For scholarship recipients who violate the agreement, the sanctions\nimposed include the return of educational funds and the blocking of\naccess to LPDP programmes in the future.<\/p>\n
In addition to the eight people who have been sanctioned with the\nrequirement to return funds, LPDP is also reviewing 36 other people\nsuspected of violating the agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach case is processed objectively and proportionally, taking into\naccount the facts and context. Once again, we uphold the mandate of the\npeople,\u201d said Sudarto.<\/p>\n
However, LPDP also provides flexibility for alumni with certain\nconditions, such as those working in strategic positions in global\nresearch institutions. However, this flexibility is also accompanied by\na commitment to continue contributing to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the context is that the alumni work in the best laboratories in\nthe world, we will look at it first. We will ask for their commitment\nagain. Because if they leave, it is not certain that another Indonesian\ncan take their place. However, if there is no commitment (to contribute\nto Indonesia), we will immediately impose sanctions,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Based on LPDP\u2019s presentation, other specific conditions that allow\nalumni to stay abroad during the service period include civil servants\n(ASN), the military (TNI), and the police (Polri) who are officially\nassigned; employees of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) who are assigned;\nand assignments from government agencies.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, working in international organisations, assignments in\ncompanies based in Indonesia, and post-study programmes that are\nofficial collaborations with LPDP are also considered.<\/p>\n
LPDP is also preparing internship or entrepreneurship schemes for\nalumni for a period of up to two years after graduation with the\napproval of LPDP and meeting the established requirements.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-lpdp-alumni-sanctioned-required-to-return-funds-up-to-idr-2-billion-each-1772076991", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }