LPDP's Efforts to Ensure Scholarship Graduates Are Accepted in the Workforce
The President Director of the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), Yon Arsal, stated that while LPDP cannot guarantee employment for its scholarship recipients, the fund’s primary objective is to ensure scholars are prepared to compete effectively in the global workforce. Speaking at the Ministry of Finance building in Jakarta on Monday, 29 June 2026, he noted that LPDP collaborates with top-tier universities to select study programmes that enhance student reputation.
LPDP is also partnering with overseas institutions, such as leading universities in China, to facilitate the placement of graduates into international companies. Furthermore, the fund is working alongside research bodies, industrial sectors, and entrepreneurship programmes to foster career opportunities. Dwi Larso, Director of LPDC Scholarships, added that the fund continuously monitors government industrial development targets, collaborating with Danantara, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and downstream sector companies.
Since 2021, LPDP has focused heavily on Material Science and Metallurgy, sending 150 students to study abroad in these fields annually. According to Larso, these graduates are successfully absorbed into the workforce, including roles in private mineral companies, SOEs, and multinational corporations operating in Indonesia. He claimed that nearly 100 per cent of the fields selected by LPDP are currently in high demand within the Indonesian industry.
The second phase of the 2026 scholarship registration will run from 30 June to 31 July 2026. LPDP is offering two main programmes: the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Strategic Industry Scholarship, and the SHARE (Social, Humanities, Arts for People, Religious Studies, Economics) Scholarship. Additionally, the fund is reopening the Accelerated Scholarship programme for top universities, special partnership programmes such as Sports Scholarships, and the National Research and Innovation Talent Scholarship for Doctoral by Research tracks.
The STEM Strategic Industry field encompasses sectors including food, energy, defence, digitalisation (including AI and semiconductors), healthcare, downstreaming, maritime, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries. LPDP also provides funding for STEM-related fields such as business, economics, law, and public policy that support these strategic industries. Meanwhile, the SHARE programme focuses on strengthening social aspects, public policy, culture, education, and religion to support national development.
President Director Yon Arsal stated that at least 80 per cent of scholarship allocations are focused on STEM and related strategic industrial fields, with a maximum of 20 per cent allocated to SHARE. He noted that the STEM allocation increased from 66-69 per cent in 2025 to 74 per cent in 2026, with the goal of reaching a minimum of 80 per cent for STEM and STEM-related disciplines. STEM-related fields include non-STEM areas that directly support STEM-based strategic industries, such as Public Policy, Law, Business, and Economics.