10,359 Students Register for Patriot Expedition Program 2026
JAKARTA — Registration for the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) programme, organised by the Ministry of Transmigration, has officially closed with 10,359 students signing up by the final registration date of 21 May 2026.
This figure marks a significant increase from previous data. By 20 May 2026, 165,361 visitors from 1,440 universities both domestically and internationally had accessed the TEP 2026 registration portal.
“The significant surge in registrations near the deadline reflects the growing enthusiasm among young people to actively contribute to Indonesia’s development,” said Minister of Transmigration M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara during a working session with Commission V of the House of Representatives at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (20/05/2026).
The TEP 2026 programme involves students and graduates from various universities in Indonesia and abroad.
In addition to domestic institutions, applicants include international universities such as Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Manchester, the University of Glasgow, King’s College London, Ohio University, and Universiti Utara Malaysia.
“This also indicates that participant interest is not limited to the top 10 domestic universities but spans across various institutions both within Indonesia and internationally,” he added.
Previously, 95% of applicants had completed their administrative documents, with 84.5% successfully verified.
Initial data shows 6,178 applicants met administrative requirements. The Ministry of Transmigration, alongside partner universities, will now conduct a selection process to choose 1,230 Patriot Expedition Team members to be deployed to 53 transmigration areas in 2026, primarily in eastern Indonesia.
By the registration closure on 21 May 2026, 8,529 applicants had passed administrative verification.
Iftitah stated the programme is part of the government’s effort to strengthen state presence in remote, frontier, and outermost regions (3T), such as Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
“Indonesia is too vast to be discussed only in classrooms and forums. In many places, the land is fertile, the seas are rich, and the future is bright. Yet poverty persists. The nation needs more than just words; it needs presence,” Iftitah said on a separate occasion.
Through the programme, participants will conduct research, studies, and direct community support at their assigned locations.
The programme also builds on the success of the 2025 TEP in addressing real community needs.
Deployment periods are split into two schemes: four months for assignments outside Papua and up to one year for those posted in Papua.
Diploma and bachelor’s degree graduates will engage in various activities, including assisting farmers and fishermen, supporting school education, aiding healthcare services, and contributing to basic infrastructure development and local economic strengthening.
“Patriot Transmigration is a calling. A year of service to go straight to the field, bring new hope, create job opportunities, and build community economies,” Iftitah said.