Facts: LPDP Scholarship Recipients Must Attend Briefing by the Indonesian National Armed Forces
The briefing for recipients of the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) scholarships this year will be conducted by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and held at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base complex. The programme is mandatory for all recipients of master’s (S2) and doctoral (S3) scholarships, whether for studies in Indonesia or abroad, before commencing their academic programmes.
The following are several facts regarding the involvement of the TNI in the 2026 LPDP briefing:
Scheduled to Last Five Days
According to the event letter received by Tempo, the briefing will take place from 4 to 9 May 2026 at the Marshal Sukardi Building, Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base. Some of the materials in the agenda are said to be delivered by the TNI.
The letter states that 206 participants are scheduled to attend the event. They consist of master’s and doctoral scholarship recipients for studies both in Indonesia and abroad. All activities in the series are mandatory before the participants begin their studies.
The same letter mentions that the briefing aims to strengthen mindset, foster independence, instil noble national values, reinforce nationalism, and internalise LPDP’s values and culture.
Many Participants Object
The policy has drawn objections from several scholarship recipients. One participant, who declined to be named, questioned the involvement of the TNI in delivering the materials.
According to him, participants were informed that they would stay in tents during the event and be limited to using mobile phones for only one hour per day.
“I received information that we will be staying in tents, and we won’t be allowed to use our handphones during the event. Only one hour a day. Almost everyone is questioning why,” he said.
Previously Protested to LPDP
The same source said that several scholarship recipients have submitted protests to LPDP. However, he said, management stated that the rules are final.
Participants are even prohibited from bringing mobile phones during the briefing. “Apparently, before negotiations, the conditions didn’t allow handphones at all. After negotiations, it became one hour a day. Basically, they said this is already management’s decision,” he said.
LPDP’s Response
Head of the Legal and Communications Division of LPDP, M. Lukmanul Hakim, said that the TNI’s involvement is only to facilitate outdoor activities. TNI personnel will guide the outdoor activities that are part of the briefing series for scholarship recipients. “This outdoor event has also been programmed and implemented in previous batches. It’s not new in the implementation of LPDP recipient briefings,” Lukman said on Saturday, 2 May 2026.
Content of the Briefing Materials
According to Lukman, the outdoor activities are designed to build cooperation among participants. He said other briefing materials cover character strengthening, national values, discipline, mental readiness, and ethics as state scholarship recipients.
Lukman claimed that the agenda is not the same as defence training, even though it is held in a military area and involves TNI personnel.
Explanation from the Minister of Higher Education
The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, stated that the briefing for prospective master’s and doctoral students by the TNI is conducted to ensure participants are prepared for studies in Indonesia or abroad. The activity also aims to instil discipline, hard work, and national values among the state scholarship recipients.
Brian dismissed the notion that the briefing will be entirely conducted by the TNI. “The main point is that LPDP needs elements of discipline, hard work, and nationalism. So that when they study, they have the spirit, and upon returning to Indonesia, they can give the best contribution to our nation,” Brian said when met on the sidelines of his activities in Jakarta on Saturday, 2 May 2026.