The long journey of Ulin Nuha Syahnarendra, a student of the Japanese for Business and Professional Communication Program at the UGM Vocational College (SV UGM), has finally borne fruit.
The student from Kalasan, Sleman, was awarded the prestigious Japanese Studies Non-Degree Scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (Monbukagakusho/MEXT) to pursue studies at Kyoto University of Education from October 2025 to September 2026.
The path to the scholarship was not easy for Ulin, who had to overcome financial challenges while pursuing his studies. With two siblings also in college, the award, he said, would ease his family’s financial burden. The moment he was declared a scholarship recipient was deeply emotional.
“Feelings of joy, relief, and gratitude all came together because I had failed three times before. At last, my perseverance and refusal to give up have paid off; it’s an indescribable feeling,” he recalled on Thursday (Aug. 14).
Ulin first learned about the MEXT Scholarship during high school from his family and had attempted three times to secure a fully funded undergraduate program in Japan.
He attributed his eventual success to thorough preparation. Having taken every type of test since 2022, he knew exactly what needed improvement from his previous attempts.
“I started preparing earlier than other participants and studied harder,” he said.
For prospective MEXT applicants, Ulin advised that the scholarship is highly competitive, as it is administered directly by the Japanese government.
“It requires sacrifice in terms of time, energy, and even financial resources to reach the finish line. If you fail, there is always another year. Don’t give up. Your persistence will eventually be rewarded,” Ulin emphasized.
As the only student from his study program to pass through the national selection process organized by the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, Ulin expressed his pride. He hopes his achievement will inspire others.
“I want what I have achieved to motivate and inspire other UGM students to be courageous and enthusiastic about studying abroad. Hopefully, UGM alumni can become the driving force behind Indonesia’s Golden Generation in 2045,” he said.
Ulin’s decision to study Japanese at SV UGM was driven by his vision for the future.
“Indonesia will soon enter its golden era in 2045, marked by a large working-age population. Special skills will be essential to remain competitive in such a challenging job market. One of my goals is to work directly in Japan,” he explained.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographs: Ulin Nuha Syahnarendra