On Tuesday, Acting Mission Director for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), David Hoffman and the Director General of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia (RISTEKDIKTI), Prof. dr. Ali Ghufron Mukti, M.Sc., Ph.D, hosted a reception to send off 24 Indonesian professionals to earn their post-graduate degrees in the United States. These professionals are the recipient of the USAID Program to Extend Scholarships and Training to Achieve Sustainable Impacts (PRESTASI) scholarship program.

“This scholarship is not only an opportunity for these professionals to advance their skills and careers, more importantly, they will be able to use the knowledge and experience they will gain to contribute to the development of Indonesia,” said Acting Mission Director Hoffman.

USAID’s PRESTASI is among the many U.S. Government scholarship programs designed to advance cooperation, promote prosperity and enhance mutual understanding between the United States and Indonesia.

“The bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the United States on Science, Technology and Higher Education is implemented in many types of collaboration. One of them is through USAID PRESTASI Scholarship Program. This year, one scholar from RISTEKDIKTI, Kevin Marbun, is going to pursue his Master’s degree in the US. He will study Higher Education Administration at the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development for two years (2018-2020). We hope when Kevin and his fellow scholars return to Indonesia, they will use their newly gained skill and knowledge to contribute to Indonesia’s development,” said Director General Mukti.

USAID scholarship programs are open to all Indonesians with professional experience, high academic performance, leadership skills and dedication to improving the lives of others. The scholarship programs give special consideration to promising individuals from disadvantaged and under-represented geographical areas in Indonesia as well as professionals working for the Government of Indonesia. The programs also strongly encourage women to apply.

Since 1950, USAID and its predecessor agencies have provided scholarships to more than 4,000 Indonesians to earn degrees at U.S. universities. Tens of thousands more Indonesians have participated in non-degree training in the United States. To learn more, visit www.usaid.gov/indonesia.