Embracing Progress: Acting Regent of East Manggarai Welcomes APKASI’s Efforts to Enhance Human Resources Quality through BIE-D Program

East Manggarai – According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), East Manggarai, one of the regencies in East Nusa Tenggara Province, shows a positive trend in community participation in pursuing higher education. This positive trend is being furthered by the local Government.

Acting Regent of East Manggarai, Ir. Boni Hasudungan Siregar, expressed that many young people in East Manggarai have not yet had the opportunity to continue their education to higher levels, both domestically and internationally. Many of them are intelligent and talented young individuals.

In this context, Boni Hasudungan Siregar warmly welcomed the socialization of the Indonesia Emas-Daerah (BIE-D) Scholarship program organized by the Association of All Indonesian Regency Governments (APKASI) and the Nusantara Adiluhung Educational Foundation (YPAN). The socialization of the BIE-D program took place from Friday to Tuesday (18-22/10) at the East Manggarai Regency Secretary’s Office Hall.

Boni urged the participants of the socialization not to miss the opportunity provided by APKASI and YPAN. “If we miss this opportunity, we will be at a loss and will surely fall further behind other regencies,” he said.

The BIE-D program aims to enhance the skills and competencies of Indonesian human resources to support the long-term national development plan towards Indonesia Emas 2045. There are three schemes in this BIE-D program: Regular Program, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Program, and scholarships for studying at foreign universities.

Dr. Himmatul Hasanah, M.P., as the Education Expert Staff of APKASI, stated that APKASI provides opportunities for the youth of East Manggarai to improve themselves. APKASI has allocated 50 scholarships for the regular program, 15 scholarships for studying abroad in China, Egypt, Turkey, and Korea, and 100 scholarships for the RPL program for both government employees and non-government employees as well as village officials.

Himmatul Hasanah mentioned that APKASI will continue to build synergy with the Provincial Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of this program in line with the national education vision.