UNAIR NEWS – Firda Aulia Rahman or Firda, a graduate of Universitas Airlangga’s (UNAIR) Faculty of Pharmacy, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to pursue a Master of Public Health at The University of Melbourne, Australia. However, her path to this accomplishment was filled with challenges. Initially, she was uncertain about the necessity of returning to Indonesia after completing her studies abroad.
Her perspective shifted after attending the LPDP Festival 2023, particularly during the business competition session at the event. There, she met numerous LPDP scholarship recipients from different regions across Indonesia. Their passion and commitment to national development provided her with a fresh outlook.
“I wasn’t initially interested in LPDP, as I felt more at ease living overseas. However, after meeting fellow awardees who shared a strong vision for Indonesia, I began to reassess my priorities. I witnessed their enthusiasm and dedication to returning home and making meaningful contributions to the country,” she said.
That moment became a turning point for Firda. She grew increasingly aware of the crucial role young people play in Indonesia’s progress. Her passion for public health deepened, ultimately inspiring her to apply for the LPDP scholarship as the first step toward achieving her vision.
Overcoming challenges and setbacks
Firda’s journey to securing the scholarship was not without obstacles. She initially failed in her first attempt at the LPDP selection process. At the time, she was working in the corporate sector, which made it difficult to balance her job and scholarship preparation.
“I applied for Batch 1 in 2024 but was unsuccessful. At that time, I was employed in the corporate world, and honestly, it was tough to manage my workload while preparing for the selection process. However, that setback taught me valuable lessons, and thankfully, I succeeded on my second attempt in the next batch,” she recalled.
Rigorous LPDP selection process
Firda explained that the LPDP selection process is highly competitive, involving several stages, including administrative screening, computer-based assessments, essay writing, and interviews. Among these, she found the interview to be the most challenging.
“The interview stage is critical. I had to articulate clearly how my studies would benefit Indonesia, particularly in the field of public health,” she stated.
She underscored the importance of thorough preparation in navigating the selection process with confidence. “Effective time management is crucial, especially when writing essays and meeting all the necessary requirements. Additionally, self-confidence and an in-depth understanding of one’s chosen field of study are key to success,” she added.
Author: Rosali Elvira Nurdiansyarani
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
