Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Two alumni of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), have successfully received the Arryman Scholarship to pursue joint Master's and PhD studies at the Department of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. The recipients are Alifia Marina Syarfi, a 2019 graduate of the international undergraduate program (IUP), and Christian Tangkere, a 2018 graduate of the undergraduate program.

First time awarded to FEB UGM Alumni

The Arryman Scholarship is a collaboration between the Indonesian Scholarship and Research Support Foundation (ISRSF) and SOAS University of London. The scholarship aims to support promising young Indonesian academics who wish to pursue Master's and PhD studies at SOAS University of London. The two FEB UGM alumni are the first from their faculty to receive this prestigious scholarship.

Alifia expressed her gratitude for being selected as one of the Arryman Scholarship recipients. In addition to the opportunity to study at SOAS University of London, which is ranked the third best university in the world for development studies according to the QS University Rankings 2024, the Arryman Scholarship is unique in that it offers the opportunity to pursue both a Master's and a PhD at the same time. In addition, the Arryman Scholarship offers the opportunity to work as a researcher at one of the universities in the Institutes for Advanced Research (IFAR) consortium.

"The Arryman Scholarship is an all-in-one package, which is rare. Not only does it offer the opportunity to pursue a master's and doctoral degree, but it is a full scholarship that covers all expenses. So for those of you with a passion for research in development and political economy, this scholarship is perfect for you," said Alifia, who previously worked as a consultant on an Asian Development Bank project.

Tips for Securing the Scholarship

Alifia shared that she was awarded the Arryman Scholarship on her first attempt. She offered some advice to students applying for the scholarship: highlight your skills and interest in development economics and focus on specific areas within the field that are your specialties. "Whatever your dreams may be, I hope you enjoy the process and focus on your progress rather than comparing yourself to others," she said.

Previously, Alifia completed a Master of Science (MSc) in International Development at the University of Edinburgh from September 2023 to August 2024. She was pursuing her master's degree with a scholarship from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), Ministry of Finance, Indonesia. Although she already had a Master's degree from the University of Edinburgh, Alifia was eager to pursue another Master's degree to deepen her knowledge of development economics from a different perspective.

Alifia said she is ready to pursue a Master's and Ph.D. simultaneously because of the adaptability skills she gained during the FEB UGM. These adaptability skills were mainly developed through her experience participating in various international exposure programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, she participated in online summer programs at three universities in Germany, Austria, and Singapore.

When asked about her plans after completing her Master's and PhD studies, Alifia expressed her desire to become a researcher at one of IFAR's partner universities, Monash University Indonesia, in the Public Policy Research Division. Alifia believes she can contribute to politics, economics, and political economy by joining the Public Policy Research Division.

"After contributing to IFAR, I dream of exploring a career in policy-making to continue contributing by implementing academic findings in real life as a practitioner in NGOs or international organizations," she said.

Further study expands career opportunities

Meanwhile, Christian Tangkere said in a separate interview that his motivation for continuing his studies is to support his goal of becoming an academic. He believes that further research will increase his chances of developing as a productive researcher and contributing to advancing knowledge, particularly in the social sciences. After completing his Bachelor's degree, Christian worked as a Research Associate and Teaching Assistant at FEB UGM until May 2024.

Christian acknowledged that his path to the Arryman Scholarship took work. He succeeded after two rejections. "Being rejected twice certainly affected my confidence in my ability to succeed in academia. However, the support of the faculty and peers at FEB UGM kept me persevering. I believe this scholarship aligns with my aspirations to contribute to academia," he explained.

Christian says the Arryman Scholarship is highly prestigious because it offers two rare opportunities. First, it provides funding for both a master's and doctoral degree simultaneously. Second, it provides a supportive research environment after graduation through placement at ISRSF's partner universities.

Message for Students

Despite the challenging journey, Christian is closer to realizing his dream through the Arryman Scholarship. He advised students to discover their life's calling by reflecting on their interests, life experiences, strengths, and weaknesses and to develop a support system of peers.

"Sometimes our journey is full of challenges, and a support system will help us keep going. As one of the national heroes from my home region of North Sulawesi, Sam Ratulangi, said, 'Sitou Timou Tumou Tou,' which means people live to humanize others," he concluded.

Reportase: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum 

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