UNS — Various scholarships are offered by numerous institutions and companies for the Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta. One of them is the Djarum Scholarship Plus. This scholarship is intended for students in undergraduate degree or four-year diploma programs. The uns.ac.id get the chance to interviews two awardees of the program, namely Dewa Putu Adhi Nugraha Anom from Food Technology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture (FP), and Dian Cita Putri from Management Study Program Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB).
Knowing the Djarum Scholarship Plus
Dian explains that the scholarship is one that focused on developing students’ skills. “The differences between this scholarship with the other scholarships are the availability of various training for the Beswan Djarum (the title given to the scholarship awardees). All these training are available to prepare the awardees to be the next leader. The available training programs are, among others, nation-building, character building, leadership development, competition challenges, and international exposure,” she explains during an interview on Saturday (22/5/2021).
Additionally, through the Community Empowerment, the Beswan Djarum is given the opportunity to implement their skills by getting involved directly in providing a solution for certain social problem arises in their surrounding environment. Each student is only given one chance to apply for this scholarship because this scholarship is only available to students in their fourth semester.
Selection Process
The selection process of the scholarship is done by the Djarum Foundation, including document selection or administration, written tests, and interviews. Dian also explains that during the ongoing pandemic, all selection processes are done virtually. “The selection started with document selection. All students who wish to apply for the scholarship must visit their official website and filling/answering a number of questions. After finishing, the participant can print the registration. After registration is done, the applicant must submit supporting documents such as a Letter of Statement that the applicant is not a scholarship recipient, student ID, transcript, and proof of organizational activities. After completing all supporting documents, the application must be sent to the scholarship committee,” she added.
The selection process follows an elimination scheme, where applicants who do not pass the administration selection are unable to proceed to the next stage. All participants who passed the administration selection will go to a written test, which includes Academic Potential Test (TPA) and psychological test. The last stage after the written examination is the interview stage, which begins with an essay writing on applicants’ experiences.
Impression as Djarum Scholarship Plus Awardee
As one of the 36th Djarum Scholarship Plus Awardees, Dewa admits that he is thankful and excited. According to him, the scholarship is one of a complete package because providing not only tuition assistance but also character building and soft-skill development. “Back then, I was applying for two scholarships, the Cargill Scholarship that focuses on agriculture and this scholarship. As a blessing, I was announced as one of the recipients of the Djarum Scholarship Plus. Even if I wish I can pass the Cargill selection, but I am thankful for this result instead,” he reveals his feeling.
Similar admission was made by Dian, who has set her objective to apply for the scholarship since her time as a new student in UNS. This wish is started from the billboard she saw behind the UNS campus, which motivate her to apply. She further adds that this scholarship becomes a turning point in her life. She can meet many great people both in UNS and other universities. Moreover, the networking among the scholarship awardees helps her in sharing ideas, opinions, and thoughts with others. Become Not only part of Beswan Surakarta but also a wider organization that incorporates all Djarum Scholarship Awardees in Indonesia.
“We planned to design a project to meet our fellow awardees from other universities. Thus, even though the event was conducted virtually, we can meet with students from other universities. I feel that the community for this scholarship is stronger culture than other scholarship communities,” she added.
Tips and Tricks
As the scholarship awardee, Dewa and Dian also share some tips and tricks based on their experiences. Dewa states that achievements are not the main point of this scholarship because the focus is mainly on character building and soft skill development. Therefore, he reminds the prospective applicants not to feel inferior because the main focus of the scholarship is active organization involvement.
1. Pay Attention to Requirements
At the beginning stage, applicants must prepare the requirements from the committee. Moreover, the applicant must pay attention to the submission deadline, both the online submission deadline and the offline document submission. The administration stage is one of the most crucial stages that determine their success in passing the early-stage selection.
2. Test Exercises
Dian shares that for this stage, intensive exercise is needed for the TPA test. More exercise will prepare the applicants better, especially with the time limit during the written test. Many sources are available to get practice questions.
3. Honest
The next tip from Dewa and Dian is honesty. During the selection process, all applicants must be honest, especially during the interview session.
4. Prepare the Device and Stable Internet Connection
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the scholarship selection was conducted virtually. Therefore, a stable internet connection is important. A backup connection is needed in case there is a problem with the main internet network.
5. Optimizing the Interview Time
The two UNS add another tip to use interview time optimally. One of them is to attract the interviewers’ interest to ask more. This suggestion includes finding the interviewer’s profile before the interview session.
Concluding their sharing, they advised UNS students who wanted to register for the Djarum Scholarship Plus not to be afraid to try. “Just try it if there is any opportunity. Better fail because of trying than never try. Use your time wisely, and do not forget to pray,” advised Dian.
All information and requirements to the Djarum Scholarship Plus are available at djarumbeasiswaplus.org. Additionally, Dewa and Dian are open to inquiries from UNS students who are interested to learn further about this scholarship.
“If you have further inquiries, you can reach me through a Direct Message in my Instagram @diancita and @dewapnugraha,” Dewa concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
