30 New Students Selected to Study at ULM with 2025 BPDPKS Scholarships
BANJARMASIN – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) has been officially appointed as one of the universities hosting the 2025 Palm Oil Human Resources Scholarship Program, funded by the Indonesian Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) of the Ministry of Finance.
ULM Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmad Alim Bachri, SE., M.Si., along with Vice Rector for Finance and General Affairs Dr. Ir. Arief Rahmad Maulana Akbar, M.Si., IPU, were present to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding this scholarship funding in Jakarta on Wednesday (September 20, 2025).
The 30 new students from the class of 2025 will study in the Agroecotechnology study program at the ULM Faculty of Agriculture with scholarship support of nearly 6 billion rupiah for eight semesters.
This appointment is based on the BPDPKS Announcement Letter Number PENG-3/DPKS/2025 concerning Institutions Providing Education for Human Resource Development in Oil Palm Plantations. This year, 41 universities across Indonesia passed the selection process as program partners.
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, ULM, Prof. Dr. Akhmad Rizally Saidy, S.P., M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D., explained that each student will receive financial assistance of nearly IDR 200 million for the duration of their studies.
“The scholarship covers tuition fees, dormitory fees, living expenses, books, uniforms, certification, round-trip transportation from their hometown to Banjarmasin, as well as internship and graduation fees,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Agroecotechnology Study Program at the ULM Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Untung Santoso, S.Si., M.Si., emphasized that the scholarship recipient selection process is carried out directly by BPDPKS.
“We only received a list of 30 students from the BPDPKS (Indonesian Palm Oil Development Agency). We are currently reconfirming with prospective new students whether they are still willing to accept the program or whether any have withdrawn. If any withdraw, their positions will be filled by reserves,” he explained.
The Palm Oil Human Resources Scholarship Program is an initiative of the BPDPKS under the Ministry of Finance to improve the capacity of the younger generation, particularly in oil palm plantations. In addition to providing financial support, the program also emphasizes competency development, sustainability, and innovation in the palm oil industry.
According to Rangga Rahmananda from BPDPKS, registration for the 2025 scholarship opened on May 17, 2025, through the official website www.beasiswasdmsawit.id. The scholarship is open to seven recipients: smallholders and their families, plantation employees, managers of smallholder institutions, associations, extension workers, and civil servants working in the oil palm sector.
With the selection of ULM as one of the host campuses, this oldest university in Kalimantan is once again demonstrating its active role in supporting the improvement of the quality of national human resources, particularly in the oil palm plantation sector, one of Indonesia’s leading commodities.
