Supporting Indonesia Emas 2045 Vision, Pertamina Awards Scholarships to 520 Students from Sumatra to Papua
Jakarta, August 15, 2024 – Human development and environmental sustainability are key to realizing Indonesia Emas 2045 Vision. To support this vision, PT Pertamina (Persero) launches the Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship program as part of its Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) initiative in education. As Independence Day approaches, Pertamina announced that 520 students from Sumatra to Papua are selected to receive the Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship.
Erry Sugiharto, Director of Human Resources of PT Pertamina (Persero), warmly welcomed the new batch of Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship recipients in its 11th year.
"I extend my greetings to 520 future leaders of the nation, spread from Sumatra to Papua. Welcome aboard the great Sobat Bumi Indonesia ship. This scholarship is proof of Pertamina's active contribution to realizing Indonesia Emas 2045 Vision by preparing a generation of environmentally-conscious and exceptional young people to face future challenges, particularly in the energy transition and demographic bonus periods," Erry said.
The scholarship has been professionally managed by the Pertamina Foundation since 2011. Over the past five years, the number of scholarship recipients has steadily increased, even during the pandemic. There were 285 recipients in 2020; in 2021, 381; in 2022, 420; and in 2023, 465 recipients.
The enthusiasm for this scholarship has surged compared to previous years. Last year, 10,121 students applied, while this year, the number increased to 19,236. The selection process was highly competitive, with candidates being evaluated through a ranking system, starting from the administrative stage, interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and culminating in the selection of scholarship recipients.
The FGD stage was particularly memorable for participants, as they were challenged to collaboratively find solutions for case studies involving issues and potential in a village, based on Pertamina's flagship TJSL program, the Desa Energi Berdikari (Independent Energy Village, DEB).
Agus Mashud S. Asngari, President Director of the Pertamina Foundation, stated that understanding DEB was crucial during the selection process because recipients would become initiators of the Desa Energi Berdikari Sobat Bumi (DEB SoBI) upon their selection.
"Selected scholarship recipients, along with lecturers, academics, or practitioners from their universities, must mentor a village and install renewable energy systems that can boost the local economy. Last year, 24 Desa Energi Berdikari Sobat Bumi (DEB SoBI) successfully brought sustainable benefits to communities, added value for scholarship recipients, and served as laboratories for universities. This year, they will continue developing the previous DEB SoBI and aim to establish 16 new villages. Besides DEB, we will introduce them to other environmental TJSL programs, such as Pertamina Forest and endemic flora and fauna conservation," Agus.
In addition to aligning with Indonesia Emas 2045 Vision, the Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship program aligns with the Sustainable Development achievement Goal 4 on quality education and Goal 13 on climate action.
Pertamina's VP of Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, added that the Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship is not only Pertamina's commitment to supporting the academic achievements of the younger generation but also to shaping these selected students into sustainability agents.
"We want the younger generation to play a role in creating a sustainable future through energy transition education and real actions that we can take for the future of the Earth," Fadjar explained.
Karya Wahyuda, a law student and scholarship recipient from Pattimura University, expressed gratitude and his promise as a scholarship recipient.
"Being a scholarship recipient has motivated me even more to excel and contribute to environmental preservation efforts. I am also more driven to enhance my capacities and deepen my understanding of sustainability issues. Thank you to Pertamina for the trust. I am committed to making the most of this scholarship to achieve excellence and contribute to the Earth's sustainability," Karya said.
For more information on the Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship, please visit the Pertamina Foundation website at pertaminafoundation.org and follow the official social media accounts. Beware of scams; all selection processes and activities for the Pertamina Sobat Bumi Scholarship are free of charge.
Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**