Great news for Indonesian university students! The Singapore Chamber of Commerce Indonesia (SingCham) has officially launched the second year of its flagship program, the SingCham Uplifting Scholarship 2026. Funded by Singaporean business entities operating in Indonesia, this initiative aims to support and nurture the country’s future top talents. Interestingly, the program has grown significantly this year. While last year’s batch only sponsored 8 students, this year the quota has been expanded to 13 lucky undergraduate students who succeeded in passing the rigorous selection process. The scholarship specifically targets active third and fourth-year students, giving them a crucial head start before they step foot into the highly competitive professional world.
There is also something new in this second edition. Coinciding with SingCham’s 20th anniversary of its presence in Indonesia, the organization decided to broaden its geographical reach. Previously, the application was only open to university students in the Jabodetabek area. Now, students from the Greater Bandung region (Bandung Raya) can also apply and enjoy the same opportunities. This expansion shows SingCham’s strong commitment to empowering more young talents through structured mentorship, leadership training, and direct corporate exposure.
The 13 selected awardees represent a proud lineup of top-tier universities across both regions. These institutions include Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), Politeknik Negeri Bandung (POLBAN), BINUS University, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L), IPMI International Business School, UPN Veteran Jakarta, and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
The official token presentation ceremony took place at the UOB Plaza building in Jakarta, which added a touch of prestige to the milestone. The event was attended by the Ambassador of Singapore to Indonesia, H.E. Kwok Fook Seng, who personally congratulated the bright students. To run this impactful program seamlessly, SingCham is working hand-in-hand with professional program managers I-SMART and Kinobi, alongside a strategic partnership with the Singapore Global Network (SGN).
What makes this scholarship stand out from typical financial aid programs is its comprehensive, dual-benefit approach. Recipients do not just get their tuition fees covered; all 13 students are guaranteed a golden opportunity to intern directly at reputable Singaporean sponsor companies operating right here in Indonesia. The corporate sponsors for this year’s program include big names such as UOB Indonesia, Titan Corporation, Tuah & Suparto Advocates & Solicitors, APRW, Withers, and Coromandel Productions.
Through this hands-on framework, students get the chance to learn directly from seasoned business practitioners via an exclusive mentorship setup. Shoeb Kagda, the Chairman of SingCham Indonesia, pointed out that direct industry exposure is absolutely crucial in today’s fast-evolving corporate landscape. He emphasized that this real-world experience will help students build the vital skills, self-confidence, and sharp insights they desperately need when entering the workforce later on.
This vision is fully shared by the corporate partners. Luke Ariefiandi, Head of Strategic Communications and Brand at UOB Indonesia, expressed that developing future-ready talent is the key to building a stronger, more competitive Indonesia. UOB Indonesia is proud to support the initiative, hoping it empowers youths with a global mindset so they can confidently compete in the broader ASEAN economic arena.
From the administrative side, Kinobi noted a massive surge in applications this year, both in terms of quantity and student quality. Hafiz Kasman, the CEO of Kinobi, explained that the selection process looked far beyond mere grades on a transcript. The review board put equal weight on assessing a student’s personal drive, leadership potential, and problem-solving skills, which were evaluated through real-world business case study essays. In this modern era, technical skills are no longer enough; young professionals must be highly innovative, ready to adopt AI technologies, possess an entrepreneurial mindset, and be capable of thriving in cross-cultural global collaborations.
Bahasa : IndonesiaÂ
