LPDP Involves Military in Scholarship Awardee Orientation, Draws Criticism

Indonesia's state scholarship agency, LPDP, is set to integrate the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) into its mandatory pre-departure briefing for scholarship recipients. This initiative, aimed at preparing students for study both domestically and internationally, will see military personnel participating in outdoor activities. According to M. Lukmanul Hakim, head of LPDP’s Legal and Communications Division, these sessions are designed to foster teamwork, discipline, character development, and an understanding of national values among the awardees. He clarified that while the program involves military personnel and may take place in a military environment, it is not equivalent to military training.

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The outdoor activities have been programmed and carried out in previous batches. It is not something new in the implementation of LPDP scholarship briefing activities.

The briefing, scheduled from May 4 to 9, 2026, at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, will include sessions led by TNI personnel. A total of 206 master's and doctoral scholarship recipients are expected to participate. The stated objectives include strengthening participants' mindset, independence, nationalism, and internalizing LPDP’s values. However, this policy has sparked controversy among some scholarship recipients. Concerns have been raised about the inclusion of activities like tent camping and strict limitations on mobile phone usage, with participants questioning the relevance and purpose of such military-style elements in a scholarship orientation.

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The outdoor sessions are designed to build teamwork among participants. Other materials in the briefing include character development, national values, discipline, mental preparedness, and ethics as recipients of a state scholarship.

From an Indonesian perspective, the LPDP's decision to involve the TNI in its scholarship orientation reflects a broader national emphasis on instilling discipline, nationalism, and a strong sense of unity among its youth, especially those selected for prestigious state-sponsored programs. While international observers might view this through a lens of militarization or question its pedagogical value, publications like Tempo often frame such initiatives within the context of national character building and the importance of state values. The criticism from some recipients highlights a potential disconnect between the agency's intent and the students' expectations, raising questions about transparency and the necessity of military involvement. This story underscores a uniquely Indonesian approach to education and development, where state institutions often integrate elements of national service and military ethos to shape future leaders, a practice that may differ significantly from Western educational paradigms.

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I was informed that we will be camping in tents, and we are not allowed to use mobile phones during the event. We can only use mobile phones for one hour per day. Almost everyone is questioning it — what is the purpose?