LPDP Evaluates Selection of Briefing Location for Awardees at Halim
The Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) has started providing pre-departure briefings for scholarship recipients at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta on Monday, 4 May 2026. The event, attended by 206 awardees from batch 273, is scheduled to run until Saturday, 9 May 2026.
M. Lukmanul Hakim, Head of the Legal and Communications Division of LPDP, stated that LPDP will evaluate the selection of the military environment location, which had previously drawn protests from awardees. “As a basis for refining the design and implementation of subsequent Pre-Departure Preparations (PK) to be more adaptive to the needs of awardees,” he said via a messaging application on Monday, 4 May 2026.
The evaluation covers aspects of planning, implementation, material delivery, activity methods, and incorporating feedback from scholarship recipients. According to Lukmanul, LPDP has previously used Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base for briefings of earlier batches of awardees.
Thus, he emphasised that the choice of a military complex location is not the first collaboration with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Similarly, the evaluation of the series of departure preparations for awardees is claimed to be part of the post-event routine.
“Every implementation of Pre-Departure Preparations (PK) is always thoroughly evaluated as a basis for improvement and refinement in the implementation of PK for subsequent batches, so that the quality of the briefing can be continuously enhanced sustainably,” said Lukmanul.
The batch 273 awardees will not only use military facilities but will also receive training from TNI soldiers, such as marching drills. The TNI stated that their involvement is based on an official request from LPDP, which was subsequently approved.
“In accordance with the letter addressed to the TNI, in this case the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, to provide instruction on marching drills, discipline, and character building,” said Air Force Information Service Chief, First Marshal I Nyoman Suadnyana, to Tempo on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
This policy has drawn objections from several scholarship recipients. One participant, who declined to be named, questioned the TNI’s involvement in delivering materials.
According to him, participants were informed that they would stay in tents during the event and be restricted from using mobile phones for only one hour per day.
“I got info that we will be staying in tents, then not allowed to hold phones during the event. Only allowed to hold phones one hour a day. Almost everyone is questioning what for?” he said.
M. Lukmanul Hakim stated that TNI involvement is only for assisting outdoor activities. TNI personnel will guide outdoor activities that are part of the briefing series for 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. “The selection of location or implementation methods does not change the objectives or content of the briefing provided,” he said when confirmed on Friday night, 1 May 2026.