UNAIR NEWS – Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK) of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held an alumni sharing session titled Strategies to Secure Scholarships and Study Abroad on February 28, 2026. The event was conducted online via Zoom Meeting.
FPK invited two alumni speakers: Merdeka Agus Saputra SPi MSc PhD, an MSc graduate of Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and a PhD graduate of the University of Oldenburg, Germany; and Muhammann Ar Rozzaaq Nugraha SPi MSc, an MSc and PhD graduate of National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan.
In her remarks, Dean of FPK Prof. Dr. Endang Dewi Masithah Ir MP stated that the seminar aims to provide students with information about pursuing further studies at world-class universities through scholarships.
“With the presence of our alumni, I hope students gain valuable information about scholarships for pursuing higher education abroad. As FPK students, there are still many aspects in fisheries that need to be developed. Therefore, I hope this event motivates students to pursue scholarships for further studies,” Prof. Masithah said.
Failure becomes transformative space to secure scholarship
Meanwhile, Merdeka Agus Saputra PhD, an alumnus of the University of Oldenburg, shared his experience in securing a scholarship from the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP). He also explained the challenges he faced during the preparation process, including language proficiency and administrative requirements.
According to Saputra, pursuing studies abroad was not an instant process, as he had applied to several scholarship programs at various overseas universities. “After going through multiple selection stages and receiving several rejections, I was finally accepted at Wageningen University & Research with an LPDP scholarship,” Saputra said.
Strategy in choosing university and scholarship
In addition, Muhammann Ar Rozzaaq Nugraha MSc shared his experience while pursuing his master’s and doctoral studies in Taiwan. He explained strategies for selecting a university that aligns with the intended field of study and shared tips and tricks for securing scholarships.
“In choosing a university and scholarship, it is important to ensure alignment between the research plan and the focus of the study program. It is also necessary to understand the detailed requirements and required documents,” Nugraha said.
Nugraha emphasized that foreign language proficiency, time management, and consistency were essential provisions for pursuing studies at overseas universities.
Author: Maulya Afifah Zahra
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
