DPD RI Hands Over Aspiration Pathway KIP Kuliah Scholarships to Udayana University

Denpasar – In an effort to support increased access to higher education for the younger generation, a Member of Committee III of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), Dr. IB. Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, S.E., M.Si (B-65), facilitated the provision of the Indonesia Smart Card for Higher Education (KIP Kuliah) Scholarships through the Aspiration Pathway for new students of Udayana University. The handover took place at the Agrokomplek Building, Udayana University, Sudirman Campus, Denpasar, on Wednesday (17/12/2025).

The event was attended by the Rector of Udayana University, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs, the Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Information, the Head of the Student Affairs Bureau, the Coordinator of Student Welfare, as well as student recipients of the KIP Kuliah Scholarship from Udayana University.

In his remarks, the Rector of Udayana University, Prof. I Ketut Sudarsana, stated that Udayana University views equitable and inclusive access to higher education as an essential foundation for the development of Indonesia’s human resources. The KIP Kuliah program serves as a strategic national instrument to ensure that economic limitations do not hinder young people from pursuing higher education.

The DPD RI KIP Kuliah Aspiration Pathway represents a channel for regional public aspirations through recommendations from DPD RI members, which are then verified and determined in accordance with national regulations. This mechanism reflects synergy between regional representation and the national higher education system in reaching communities in need.

Udayana University is committed to implementing the verification, determination, and management of the KIP Kuliah program in a transparent, accountable manner and in compliance with national regulations. The University also ensures that scholarship recipients receive academic mentoring so they can complete their studies successfully and on time.

On behalf of the academic community of Udayana University, appreciation and gratitude were extended to Dr. Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra for his role in channeling the aspirations of the Balinese community, enabling this higher education affirmative program to reach 12 outstanding Udayana University students with limited access.

It is hoped that the handover of the KIP Kuliah Aspiration Pathway scholarships will serve as momentum to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions, regional representatives, and the community in realizing equitable and sustainable higher education, as well as producing superior, independent, culturally rooted, and globally competitive generations.

Meanwhile, Member of Committee III of the DPD RI, Dr. IB. Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, stated that this PIP program is a strategic stimulus from the government to accelerate and expand access to higher education for the public. The program is expected not only to provide economic assistance but also to foster a strong learning spirit and build a more mature future orientation among students.

The DPD RI is committed to taking an active role in opening broader and more holistic access to education for the community, particularly through cooperation with various associations and scholarship networks across Indonesia. This effort aims to accelerate the dissemination of information, as scholarships are not limited to LPDP but are also available in various forms from the government, the private sector, and friendly countries, including work-study scholarships, language training programs, and test preparation guidance.

KIP and PIP can serve as initial steps; however, in the future, many opportunities for advanced scholarships are available and need to be utilized optimally. In line with this, current policies of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology increasingly emphasize the importance of research and strengthening link and match between universities and users of research outcomes, both from government and the private sector. Universities are expected to become centers of research development capable of addressing various national challenges.

Going forward, it is hoped that the PIP quota can continue to be increased so that more people, particularly those in remote areas who still face limited access to information, can benefit. This challenge is a shared responsibility and is expected to be addressed more effectively in the coming years.