Two alumni from the Department of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), have successfully received the Arryman Scholarship to pursue both a Master’s and PhD at the Department of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
The recipients are Alifia Marina Syarfi, a 2019 International Undergraduate Program (IUP) alumnus, and Christian Tangkere, a 2018 regular undergraduate program alumnus.
The Arryman Scholarship is a collaboration between the Indonesian Scholarship and Research Support Foundation (ISRSF) and SOAS University of London. It aims to support young, high-achieving Indonesian academics who aspire to pursue a master’s or doctoral program at SOAS University of London.
Alifia Syarfi was grateful to be selected as one of the Arryman Scholarship recipients. She highlighted that the scholarship offers the opportunity to study at SOAS University of London, which ranks third globally in Development Studies according to QS University Rankings 2024. It uniquely combines funding for both a Master’s and PhD program.
Additionally, the Arryman Scholarship provides employment opportunities as a researcher at one of the universities within the Institutes for Advanced Research (IFAR) consortium.
Syarfi shared that she secured the scholarship on her first application attempt and offered tips to students interested in applying. She advised them to highlight their capabilities and interests in development economics, focusing on specific areas of expertise.
“Whatever your dreams are, I hope you enjoy every step of the process and focus on your progress rather than comparing yourself to others,” said Syarfi, who previously worked as a consultant on an Asian Development Bank project.
Before this, Syarfi completed her Master of Science (MSc) in International Development at The University of Edinburgh from September 2023 to August 2024, funded by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) from the Ministry of Finance.
Despite already holding a master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh, Syarfi was eager to pursue another to deepen her understanding of development economics from a different perspective.
Thanks to the agility she developed during her studies at FEB UGM, Syarfi feels well-prepared to pursue the combined Master’s and Ph.D. programs.
She particularly honed these adaptive skills through her experience participating in various international exposure programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, she participated in summer programs offered online by universities in Germany, Austria, and Singapore.
When asked about her plans after completing her Master’s studies, Syarfi expressed her desire to become a researcher in the public policy division at Monash University, Indonesia, a partner of IFAR. She believes that working in the public policy research division will enable her to contribute to politics, economics, and political economy.
“After contributing to IFAR, I dream of exploring a career in policymaking to continue my contribution to implementing academic evidence in real-life scenarios as a practitioner in NGOs or international organizations,” she said.
Meanwhile, Christian Tangkere, in a separate interview, shared that his motivation to pursue further studies stems from his aspiration to become an academic.
He is confident that further studies will increase his chances of becoming a productive researcher and contributing to advancing knowledge, particularly in the social sciences.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Tangkere worked as a research associate and teaching assistant at FEB UGM until May 2024.
Tangkere acknowledged that his journey to securing the Arryman Scholarship was not easy. He succeeded on his third attempt after facing rejection twice.
“Being rejected twice certainly affected my confidence in my academic abilities. However, support from professors and fellow teaching assistants at FEB UGM kept me persistent. I am confident that this scholarship aligns with my aspirations to work in academia,” he explained.
Tangkere says the Arryman Scholarship is highly prestigious because it offers two rare opportunities. First, it provides funding for both a Master’s and PhD program. Second, it offers a conducive research environment post-study through placement at ISRSF’s partner universities.
Report by: FEB UGM/Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Editor: Gusti Greheson