Sampoerna offers scholarships for talented students

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Concerned about the increasing flight of Indonesian scientists and researchers overseas, the Sampoerna Foundation, in cooperation with the government, is offering academic scholarships for exemplary, but underprivileged, students to senior high schools and universities both at home and abroad.

The scholarships are not binding, but recipients are expected to continue their studies at home and dedicate their expertise toward national development.

Elan Merdy, operation director of the Sampoerna Foundation, told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Friday that the foundation had provided scholarships to thousands of senior high school students and hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate students at prestigious universities at home and abroad.

As of last month, the foundation -- established in 1991 by tobacco giant PT Sampoerna -- had granted scholarships to 4,725 students at 1,700 senior high schools nationwide, and 87 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Elan said that he could understand why many Indonesian students have sought scholarships from developed countries such as the United States, Japan and the European countries -- not only did students see such programs as an opportunity to develop their skills and talents, but they also did not foresee that working conditions in the country would improve amid the prolonged economic and political crises.

"Even worse, many experts are living in the U.S. and other developed countries because they cannot live in peace and prosperity here," he said, saying such experts lived a good life overseas because they were paid high for their knowledge and skills.

As part of its educational campaign, Sampoerna is also sponsoring the 2003 National Science Olympiad to be held in the South Kalimantan capital of Balikpapan from Sept. 15-19, to seek talented students to be trained as future scientists and researchers.

Olympiad coordinator Suharlan said the scientific contest, which is open to university students, would provide four winning students each with a Rp 40 million (US$4,705) scholarship to cover their educational and living costs.

"Our main aim is to find talented students and motivate them use their knowledge and expertise to help develop the nation," he said.