Minister Brian Yuliarto Tells Scholarship Recipients: Create Your Own Opportunities

Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto has urged recipients of the Garuda Scholarship not to depend on the government upon returning to Indonesia after completing their studies abroad. He stated that scholarship graduates must be bold enough to create their own opportunities if the fields they specialise in are not yet available in the country, rather than complaining about a lack of facilities or job vacancies.

The remarks were made by Brian during a briefing for Garuda scholarship recipients and participants of the Unggul Garuda Transformation Senior High School programme at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology office in South Jakarta on Thursday, 9 July 2026.

Brian reminded the scholarship recipients that they are among the nation’s best sons and daughters who have been given the opportunity to study at world-class universities. He believes they should therefore possess a higher level of competitiveness compared to graduates who did not receive the same opportunity.

‘I often get asked why LPDP scholarship graduates do not return to Indonesia, and then they complain, “Oh, I can’t find a suitable job, I’m not facilitated.” I always answer, you are sons and daughters of the nation whose quality is far better than those who did not get scholarships abroad,’ Brian said.

According to Brian, scholarship recipients should not be afraid to return to Indonesia just because they are worried about not finding a job that matches their expertise. Instead, he said, the knowledge and experience gained abroad should be capital to build new fields domestically. ‘If you are the best, why are you afraid to compete in Indonesia against those who didn’t go abroad?’ he remarked.

He also urged the scholarship recipients not to use a lack of facilities as an excuse to not be productive after returning home. ‘Don’t later, after you graduate, say, “Oh dear, Indonesia doesn’t facilitate me.” That’s impossible. You have already been given facilities, you must dare to compete. If there is no suitable field, you create it in Indonesia,’ Brian said.

Brian shared his own experience of studying in Japan. Unlike the Garuda Scholarship recipients who are funded by the Indonesian government, he obtained a scholarship from the Japanese government through his own efforts. After completing his studies, he decided to return to Indonesia without waiting for a job guarantee or facilities from the government.

‘I got a scholarship not from the Indonesian government, but from the Japanese government. I searched for it myself, I got it, and I came back here. No fear at all,’ he said.

Furthermore, Brian reminded the scholarship recipients not to continue depending on government assistance for their next level of education. After completing their undergraduate studies, he encouraged students to seek funding opportunities independently, including by building networks with professors or researchers at their target universities.

‘Once you finish your bachelor’s degree, don’t keep demanding from the nation, “Where is my master’s scholarship?” Don’t. You have already been abroad, look for scholarships there. There is a good professor, approach him. Ask for a scholarship from the professor,’ Brian said.

According to him, an independent attitude and the courage to seize opportunities are essential provisions for scholarship graduates to become drivers of innovation and new fields in Indonesia.