Sorong, 4 February 2026 – Batch 1 for 2026, LPDP continues to disseminate scholarship information through a series of seminars. Sorong City, in Southwest Papua Province, became one of the host cities for the LPDP Scholarship Seminar in Papua. The event was met with strong enthusiasm from the public.

The seminar was held at the State Islamic Institute of Sorong (IAIN Sorong) and was attended by learners from across Southwest Papua Province, as well as participants from neighboring provinces. Rector of IAIN Sorong, Dr. Suparto Iribaram, S.Sos., M.A., officially opened the seminar and warmly welcomed the presence of the Head of LPDP Scholarship Services Division, Gendro Hartono, and the Head of LPDP Scholarship Recruitment and Selection Subdivision, Sri Resmawati, who served as keynote speakers.

During the seminar, Gendro Hartono presented the new schemes introduced in the LPDP Scholarship Phase 1 for 2026. These policy updates emphasize study programs aligned with national priority sectors, as outlined in the outcomes of the 2025 Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI).

“To achieve Indonesia Emas 2045, innovation and accelerated transformation are required in sectors that support strategic industries. The Strategic Industry STEM Scholarship and the SHARE Scholarship are concrete follow-ups to KSTI 2025,” said Gendro Hartono.

From a technical standpoint, Sri Resmawati explained adjustments to the selection process and criteria, noting that the changes are largely consistent with previous policies.

“Previously, affirmative scholarships were offered through separate programs. Currently, affirmative criteria remain in place, and opportunities remain widely open—particularly for Papuan youth and underprivileged communities—while maintaining relatively more accessible requirements,” explained Sri Resmawati.

The presentation on LPDP Scholarship Phase 1 for 2026 was welcomed with various questions and aspirations from participants. Many attendees shared that they had been preparing well in advance to compete in the highly selective process, driven by a strong desire to contribute and serve the nation as future awardees.

The seminar was also attended by Mata Garuda Southwest Papua, the official alumni association of LPDP scholarship recipients. Beyond providing motivation through a sharing session, Mata Garuda Southwest Papua announced an initiative to organize mentoring programs aimed at ensuring that the best talents from Southwest Papua are well-prepared to follow in the footsteps of previous awardees.