Two Students Secure Prestigious Overseas University Places Through Highly Competitive Selection
Two students from Bekasi, Keiza and Ravi, have successfully secured the competitive Garuda Scholarship, paving their way to prestigious universities abroad. The Garuda Scholarship, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), is one of Indonesia’s most competitive programmes, awarding only 1,000 scholarships to secondary school students nationwide each year. The selection process is rigorous, encompassing academic assessments, portfolio evaluations, leadership interviews, and tests of non-academic abilities and social contributions.
Amidst this intense competition, Keiza and Ravi stood out. Keiza was actively involved in various school activities, serving as vice chair of the student council (OSIS) and participating in academic competitions in STEM, English, and debate. Her experience also included a Buddy Programme, where she assisted new students facing academic and social adaptation challenges. Through her role in the student council, she helped initiate and organise creative activities involving the entire student body.
Keiza shared that, alongside her academic and non-academic pursuits, her school consistently helped her build the confidence needed to face each stage of the Garuda Scholarship selection and prepare to seize every available opportunity. Ravi echoed similar sentiments, noting that support from teachers, school facilities such as laboratories, access to information on both local and international competitions, and intensive guidance and training helped him focus more effectively and achieve his desired targets. “All these experiences strengthened my portfolio and made me more confident in facing each selection stage, until I finally secured this scholarship,” he said.
After graduation, the two students will continue their education at UNSW Sydney and the University of British Columbia in Canada. Their stories demonstrate that success is not solely about individual capability, but also about a supportive learning environment, proper guidance, and the opportunities to grow provided by their school.