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How scholarships can transform Indonesia into an advanced nation
Scholarship programs are one of the instruments for producing superior human resources for a progressive Indonesia.
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Scholarship: Indonesia can utilize brain circulation through the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship scheme. (Shutterstock/kenary820)
B
ecoming an advanced nation is the dream of all developing countries. However, transforming a developing country into an advanced one is truly an arduous process.
Japan and Singapore are quintessential developing countries that succeeded in attaining industrialized-country status. Unfortunately, most developing countries are digging deep to obtain that status but seem to be struggling. Indonesia is one of them. It is still ensnared as a middle-income nation and overwhelmed by typical developing country issues, such as poor public services, poverty and social gaps.
Evidence shows that one of the key elements that significantly supported Singapore and Japan in their efforts to join the ranks of developed countries is brain circulation; hence, Indonesia can utilize brain circulation, including through the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scholarship scheme.
In the past, when Japan and Singapore were still developing countries, they sent thousands of their potential students for academic tertiary education in the developed world every year. They studied and experienced directly the best practices of public services there, ranging from drinking water and transportation to library service.
Positive and progressive encounters could inspire Indonesian students to apply those excellent experiences at home. Upon their return to Indonesia, they could contribute to the development of the country, which is truly the essence of brain circulation. Although brain circulation itself is broad in its concept and is not limited to sending students, workers or experts overseas to work for a certain period of time, the positive contributions to the country through the knowledge, experiences and expertise they attain in advanced countries are real.
In the Indonesian context, the government has provided LPDP scholarships to many talented recipients. This program is one of the instruments used to produce superior human resources for a progressive Indonesia.
Daugeliene and Marcinkeviciene (2009) in their article "Brain Circulation: Theoretical Considerations" emphasize that “in the future, the brain circulation phenomenon will manifest with greater power. Countries must put all their efforts to stimulate this process because this is the key to countries’ development and competitiveness as well.” Therefore, it is necessary for the government to double up attempts to push this nation to an advanced position through brain circulation.
