Brian Yuliarto urges Garuda Scholarship recipients to return
He said overseas study can cost 100 to 200 times more than domestic schooling, and awardees should seek other funding for S2.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto urged Garuda Scholarship recipients not to become dependent while studying abroad and to return to contribute to Indonesia. During the orientation for the SMA Unggul Garuda Transformasi Program and the briefing for Batch 1 Awardee Beasiswa Garuda 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday, he pointed to graduates who refuse to come home on the grounds that facilities and jobs do not match their fields. Brian said that excuse cannot be justified because scholarship recipients are high-achieving students who should be bold enough to create opportunities at home. He also said scholarships to study abroad can cost 100 to 200 times more than education in Indonesia. After S1, he said, awardees should not seek another government scholarship for S2, but should actively look for funding from professors or their destination university. Brian ended the briefing with three character traits: perseverance, persistence, and grit.