Indonesia and Japan Strengthen Human Resource Development
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemdikdasmen) is supporting the expansion of higher education access for Indonesian students through a full scholarship programme for studies in Japan. The support was conveyed during the send-off ceremony for nine high school students, the first cohort of the Fast Retailing Foundation’s Indonesia Scholarship Programme for Study in Japan, held in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/6).
This programme represents a form of strengthened educational cooperation and human resource development between Indonesia and Japan. The nine selected students will commence their English-language undergraduate studies at several universities in Japan starting in autumn 2026.
Director of Senior High Schools at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Yuli Haryanto, stated that educational cooperation between Indonesia and Japan is not only progressing at the governmental level but is also being reinforced through scholarship initiatives from the non-governmental sector.
“Indonesia and Japan have built a close partnership in education and human resource development. We are encouraged to see this cooperation further strengthened, not only at the governmental level but also through scholarship initiatives from the Fast Retailing Foundation,” Yuli said.
He expressed hope that the scholarship recipients would serve as representatives of Indonesia who uphold integrity during their studies in Japan. According to Yuli, the programme is also expected to contribute to social development through the growth of the younger generation and to strengthen educational cooperation between the two countries.
The nine scholarship recipients hail from various regions, including Jakarta, Depok, Bekasi, Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaya. They were selected from more than 600 applicants from several areas in Indonesia, including Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Papua.
The students will pursue various fields of study, including aerospace engineering, materials science, agriculture, marine biology, computer science, public policy, economics, and education.
The Indonesia Scholarship Programme from the Fast Retailing Foundation is designed to support high-achieving students interested in pursuing higher education in Japan, particularly to ensure that financial limitations do not become a barrier to accessing universities abroad.
The scholarship is provided in the form of a full, non-repayable educational grant. Its coverage includes tuition fees, living expenses, and supporting needs throughout the study period. The programme also implements a funding assurance scheme prior to the university admission process, allowing students to apply to universities with a guarantee of financial support upon acceptance.
During the send-off ceremony, Minister for Information and Culture at the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, Daisuke Hoshino, said that people-to-people exchange has become an important part of the relationship between Indonesia and Japan.
“Japan and Indonesia have built close relations through people-to-people exchange over many years. The students’ period of study in Japan will not only provide an academic experience but also an opportunity to encounter diverse perspectives and broaden their horizons,” Hoshino stated.
President of the Fast Retailing Foundation, Tadashi Yanai, also conveyed a message to the scholarship recipients. He said that studying in Japan is not solely about gaining academic knowledge, but also about understanding different ways of thinking and values.
“The world is increasingly interconnected, so no country can develop on its own without interacting with other nations. I hope the scholarship recipients can consider the role they wish to play in the global community, including in strengthening the relationship between Indonesia and Japan,” Yanai said.
The Fast Retailing Foundation previously launched a similar scholarship programme in Vietnam in 2022. The programme was then expanded to Indonesia in 2025, and this year it will also be opened in the Philippines.
Through this programme, the Fast Retailing Foundation stated its commitment to supporting human resource development, education, and the creation of a more inclusive and sustainable society.