LPDP Reminds Awardees and Alumni to Uphold and Be Loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia
The Director General of the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP), Sudarto, reminded that there should no longer be any awardees or alumni who denigrate their own nation. He affirmed that all awardees and alumni must be loyal to the Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
This is non-negotiable, as it is the main requirement that awardees must comply with in order to receive the LPDP scholarship. “This applies to both alumni and current students, even prospective students. Once you are in the database, it means you are using taxpayer money,” he said during a media briefing at the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance, Jakarta, Wednesday evening, February 25, 2026.
In addition, Sudarto also conveyed the latest rules for all awardees who are still studying abroad. He said that in previous years, the requirement for contribution or service that must be carried out in Indonesia after completing studies abroad was 2N+1, or twice the duration of study plus one year. This year, Sudarto said, the rule has been changed to 2N, or twice the duration of study.
He did not explain in detail what caused the reduction in the service period to only twice the duration of study. Sudarto only said that awardees must immediately return to build the nation. “The cost of postgraduate and doctoral education abroad is funded by the people through taxes, you must return. You must return to build our beloved country,” he said.
Sudarto believes that all LPDP scholarship recipients are patriotic individuals who deeply love their country. Therefore, he strongly hopes that all awardees who have completed their studies abroad will immediately return. If there are any who violate these provisions or commitments, the LPDP will take firm action.
He said that the LPDP has always prioritized a persuasive approach. Whatever problems awardees face abroad, they will first look for solutions. “We are persuasive. We contact alumni, what is the problem? Perhaps there is a case where they marry a foreigner, what happens? Will they be forced to divorce? That is not possible. But once again, the main obligation is to return,” he said.