Expanding Access to Education to Eradicate Poverty: UNHAS Support for Students from Low-Income Countries

In support of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 – No Poverty, Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS) is deeply committed to expanding access to higher education for students from low- and middle-income countries. Through a range of international scholarship programs, UNHAS actively opens pathways for talented young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue quality education in Indonesia.

The first step toward studying at UNHAS begins with the UNHAS International Admission Portal, which provides comprehensive information on admission procedures, requirements, and facilities available for international students. This portal reflects UNHAS’s inclusive approach to international education, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all prospective applicants.

One of the most prominent initiatives supporting students from developing nations is the Developing Countries Partnership (KNB) Scholarship, a program under the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. This fully funded scholarship covers tuition fees, living and book allowances, health insurance, settlement allowance, and publication fees. In 2024, UNHAS welcomed eight international students under the KNB Scholarship, who will first complete a one-year Bahasa Indonesia for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) program before continuing to their respective degree studies at the university.

As part of its continuous effort to strengthen internationalization, UNHAS also offers the LEADS Scholarship, a partial scholarship aimed at cultivating global leadership among outstanding students from developing countries. In 2024, eight international students were selected as LEADS awardees, each receiving a 50% tuition reduction and full exemption from development fees.

The LEADS Program at UNHAS also serves as a platform for collaboration with the Government of Timor-Leste, which sends its academics to pursue higher education at UNHAS across all levels—undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. In 2024, UNHAS proudly welcomed six students from Timor-Leste under this partnership, all of whom were granted full tuition waivers. This collaboration is set to continue in the coming years as part of an ongoing agreement to strengthen human resource development between Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

For postgraduate students with strong research potential, UNHAS offers the Presidential Scholarship, a prestigious award designed to support master’s and doctoral students from various countries in conducting impactful research aligned with sustainable development goals. In 2024, seven international students received the Presidential scholarship, gaining full tuition waivers and research funding through their academic supervisors.

Through these initiatives—the KNB Scholarship, the LEADS Scholarship, and the Presidential Scholarship—UNHAS not only enables individuals to access higher education but also contributes significantly to the global fight against poverty through human resource empowerment. Each scholarship recipient represents a future agent of change in their home country, bringing back knowledge, skills, and values that foster a more equitable and prosperous society.

Ultimately, UNHAS demonstrates that education is the most powerful bridge toward a world free from poverty—empowering individuals, transforming communities, and advancing sustainable global development.