Inspirational Story of an LPDP Awardee: Returning Home to Build the Nation
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The scholarship provided by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) is often regarded by Indonesians as an opportunity to pursue higher education, even abroad, without worrying about costs. However, as a government-funded scholarship body, LPDP requires recipients to give back to society, making service to the wider community an obligation for awardees. Therefore, any LPDP awardee studying overseas is required to return to the homeland to undertake service. The length of service is adjusted to match the duration of the study. This is because LPDP funds come from taxpayers’ money. With this funding, the government hopes LPDP recipients can build the nation, including through research, job creation and other contributions. Here are several stories of LPDP recipients. Those who have returned to the homeland have indeed made valuable contributions.
One LPDP awardee from 2019, Handika Surbakti, says from the outset he viewed the programme not only as funding for education but also as a means to boost his own capacity and to build a wide network. Hailing from Medan, Handika then pursued a Master’s degree at the University of Indonesia, focusing on Islamic economics and finance, particularly research related to financial technology (fintech).
“As someone active in the world of youth leadership, I wanted to deepen my knowledge in this field, and in the contemporary area. So my research focus became financial technology; I also wanted to expand my network,” he said during a sharing session with Mata Garuda on Wednesday night (4 March 2026).
Handika noted that LPDP provides highly comprehensive support, from financing to a range of academic facilities. He believes the support is a crucial asset for awardees to develop academically while also building professional connections. “I see that LPDP truly supports us to study well, with a wide range of support provided. The support includes access to academic visitors and various financial and non-financial support prepared by LPDP,” he said.
He explained that LPDP has emphasised from the outset that recipients should not only benefit personally, but also deliver social and economic impacts for Indonesia. Therefore, Handika is now active in the LPDP Mata Garuda alumni organisation as the Chair of the Capacity Building Pillar.
“We were entrusted by LPDP not only to provide private returns but also social and economic returns. So what we do with mentoring and being active in Mata Garuda is give back in terms of social return. By working in the professional sector, I am now in the Indonesian fintech association; this is the way to deliver economic returns,” he added.
Bringing Home the Mission to Protect Consumers
On the other hand, the spirit of giving back is also evident among LPDP’s second batch recipient for 2025. Yustina will undertake doctoral studies at King’s College London, UK. As a civil servant (PNS), Yustina is pursuing studies in cancer and pharmaceutical science with a focus on cosmetics oversight, particularly nanotechnology.
According to her, LPDP is the top choice due to strong funding support and a programme aligned with her personal goals. “And I really want to develop cosmetics regulation in the narcotics field, in nano-cosmetics products. Because I see that my vision aligns with the programme’s, I intend to use LPDP,” she said.
However, the journey to the scholarship was not easy. Yustina says the biggest challenge came from social pressure in her surroundings. As a woman, a mother of four, and a civil servant, her decision to pursue PhD abroad was questioned.
“But the biggest challenge I faced was social pressure. Because I am a woman, a mother, and a civil servant, everyone asked what I was pursuing. If you already have children and a family here, four of my children, and I must leave them, that is hard for me,” she said.
Nevertheless, Yustina chose to stay focused on her goals. She believes that by pursuing higher education, she can contribute more to society.
“I want cosmetics to be safe, I am a user of cosmetics, my children are users, my husband is, my whole family is. So I think, if not me, who else?” she said.
As this is a scholarship funded by public money, the Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa previously urged LPDP recipients not to be presumptuous and not to insult the country. After all, LPDP funds come from taxpayers and national debt.
This followed the case involving LPDP scholarship recipient Dwi Sasetningtyas and her husband Arya Iwantoro.
“I hope that in future LPDP recipients will not take the loan lightly, but they should not belittle the country; it is taxpayer money and debt to ensure our human resources grow,” said Purbaya.