19 February 2025
Christoffel Daniel Yesaya Tambunan
FH-USU PR: On Wednesday (19/02/2025), the Faculty of Law of Universitas Sumatera Utara (FH USU) held a seminar on strategies for securing international scholarships. This seminar was part of the Alumni Teaching Week series in celebration of FH USU's 71st anniversary. The event invited the Indonesian Association of British Alumni (IABA) of North Sumatra to provide information and tips on obtaining international scholarships for studying abroad, specifically for FH USU students.
The seminar featured speakers from the Indonesian Association of British Alumni (IABA) of North Sumatra, including its Secretary-General, Panut Hadisiswoyo, S.S., M.Sc., M.A., and the Deputy Minister of Education of IABA North Sumatra, Elnoviamy, M.A. The event was moderated by FH USU Lecturer Cheryl Patriana Yuswar, S.H., LL.M. Also in attendance were Vice Dean I, Dr. Agusmidah, S.H., M.Hum., FH USU alumnus Dr. Deni Amsari Purba, S.H., LL.M., MCIArb., Dipl.Arb., and Secretary I of the FH USU 71st Anniversary Committee, Dr. Yati Sharfina Desiandri, S.H., M.H.
In her speech, Prof. Dr. Ningrum Natasya Sirait, S.H., MLI. inspired the students by sharing her experiences studying abroad. Prof. Ningrum is a Fulbright Scholarship alumnus from her studies in the United States and has also participated in postdoctoral programs at several prestigious universities abroad.
Panut Hadisiswoyo, the Secretary-General of IABA North Sumatra and a Chevening Scholarship alumnus, delivered the first presentation. He discussed why students should apply for international scholarships, the opportunities available, and the eligibility criteria for those planning to continue their studies abroad. The Secretary-General of IABA North Sumatra emphasized fundamental aspects of applying for international scholarships, such as strong academic performance, proficiency in language skills, and a solid portfolio with good leadership abilities. Furthermore, Panut Hadisiswoyo shared his experience of almost failing to apply for a scholarship to the UK due to nearly missing the deadline. He also highlighted that scholarship providers generally assess applicants' portfolios from perspectives of leadership and organizational involvement.
The second presentation was delivered by Elnoviamy, M.A., the Deputy Minister of IABA North Sumatra and an LPDP Scholarship alumnus. Elnoviamy provided insights into the essential steps to prepare before applying for international scholarships, including preparing for the IELTS English proficiency test, crafting a compelling scholarship application essay, and finding strong recommendation letters. She also explained that some scholarships, such as Chevening, require minimum working hours or relevant work experience. She clarified that this requirement could be fulfilled through volunteer experiences, such as involvement in committees or organizations. Furthermore, she emphasized that when writing essays about volunteer work, students should not only list their experiences but also detail their specific roles and contributions in carrying out their responsibilities.
The event continued with a discussion and Q&A session moderated by the host. One of the questions raised was whether scholarship applicants could initially choose a study program aligned with their undergraduate discipline but later opt for a different program that does not match their original field of study. In response, the Secretary-General of IABA North Sumatra explained that this could be done based on his experience with the Chevening Scholarship. He further elaborated that some Chevening applicants apply for multiple scholarships and try to secure as many Letters of Acceptance (LoA) as possible from various universities in the UK. The Deputy Minister of IABA North Sumatra, Elnoviamy, M.A., added that such a switch is possible if the new study program remains relevant to the applicant's original academic background.
The event concluded with the distribution of scholarship preparation vouchers by the Deputy Minister of IABA North Sumatra, Elnoviamy, M.A., which were awarded to two student questioners.
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