Minister Of Education And Technology Will Prepare Student Scholarships Through Regional KPI

Minister of Higher Education of Science and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto (center) (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Higher Education for Science and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto said the regional Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) program could be a strategic step to increase the availability of scholarships for students.

This was revealed by Brian Yuliarto when inaugurating the Gorontalo State University (UNG) Integrated Laboratory in Gorontalo, Saturday.

"So maybe later the Chancellor together with other rectors in the Gorontalo area will help the Governor, help the Regional Secretary to be able to formulate KIP in this area. So that later we can expand the number of assisted students together," said Brian.

The Minister of Education and Technology acknowledged that the need for scholarships has indeed increased. Therefore, he proposed the birth of the Regional KIP program, a type of local version of the KIP lecture program that can be jointly funded by provincial and district/city governments.

At the same time, he also emphasized that regional KIP scholarships must have added value, one of which is by requiring scholarship recipient students to examine regional problems as part of their final assignment.

"Later, we will ask regional KIP students to discuss regional problems that need to be found solutions, so that they really contribute, return the results, scientific capabilities for the country, especially for the regions," explained Brian.

The inauguration of the joint laboratory UNG was attended by Gorontalo Governor Gusnar Ismail, Gorontalo Provincial Secretary Sofian Ibrahim, UNG Eduart Wlok Chancellor, and a number of other academics.