Jakarta, March 2, 2023 - After the Covid-19 pandemic that limited physical interactions, for the first time, the Departure Preparation event for LPDP scholarship recipients was held offline.

The event was enlivened with dance performances, musical presentations, the formation of the committee, and many other activities, all carried out by the 167 awardees in PK-199. The Chairman of the PK-199 Representative, Muhammad Ishak, stated that the series of PK-199 events went very successfully.

Despite the busy and physically exhausting tasks and schedules, Ishak assessed that the offline PK-199 event strengthened the bonds between awardees because they could interact directly. Ishak hopes that PK-199 can become a home for the awardees and foster togetherness even after the event ends and they have to go to their respective destinations.

"So, this PK is only the beginning that will later become the start of our togetherness after each of us goes to our destination countries and cities," said the civil servant at the Ministry of Finance, who will continue his Master's in Public Policy (MKP) studies at Gadjah Mada University.

PK-199, named Garda Asa, will also carry out a social project by planting mangroves in March 2023 for environmental sustainability. The PK-199 event took place from February 26 to March 4, 2023, at Discovery Ancol, North Jakarta.

In his opening speech for PK-199 Garda Asa, LPDP President Director Andin Hadiyanto advised that the real struggle would be after graduation, using the knowledge gained to be useful for society and the nation.

"There is no career that is superior to another. Wherever we have that passion, we will certainly be able to contribute the best," said Andin Hadiyanto at the ballroom of Convention Discovery Ancol on February 27, 2023.

Departure Preparation itself is a mandatory training program for LPDP scholarship recipients. The purpose of conducting Departure Preparation is to get to know each other, provide soft skills, national insight, and leadership character.