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They are Nauli Al Ghifari (18) and Devit Febriansyah (18), students of SMAN 1 Bukittinggi, and Deka Fakira Berna from SMAN 1 Padang. All three were accepted into ITB thanks to their outstanding academic achievements, despite coming from families with limited economic means.

Nauli was accepted into the Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering (FMPE) at ITB. His father, Pananuhon, makes a living by selling second-hand clothes at the Pasar Atas market in Bukittinggi, earning an annual income of around Rp8 million and having only Rp1.5 million in savings.

Devit was accepted into the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (SEEI-ITB). He is the only student from Malala Subdistrict to pass the SNBP selection this year. His parents, Julimar and Doni Afrijal, work as laborers carrying cinnamon bark, with an uncertain daily income. The entire village community came together to support Devit’s departure to Bandung by collecting voluntary contributions.

Meanwhile, Deka Fakira Berna was accepted into the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FMAE) at ITB, adding to the list of students from West Sumatra who made it into ITB through the national achievement-based selection pathway.

All three students also received the KIP-Kuliah (Indonesia Smart Card for College) scholarship from the government—a program formerly known as the Bidikmisi Scholarship—aimed at supporting high-achieving students from underprivileged families to pursue higher education.

The visit was also attended by Dr. Imam Santoso, S.T., M.Phil., D.Sc.(Tech.), a faculty member of the Metallurgical Engineering Research Group at FMPE ITB and educational influencer; Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Apt. Sophi Damayanti from the School of Pharmacy (SP) and Director of Alumni Relation and Career Development at ITB; Dr. N. Nurlaela Arief, MBA., IAPR., a lecturer from the School of Business and Management (SBM) and Director of Communication and Public Relations at ITB; along with Zahra Shofia Hanin from Employer Branding at ParagonCorp.

This initiative was also supported by PT Paragon Technology and Innovation, which donated a laptop and Rp5 million each to Nauli and Devit to assist with their transportation to Bandung.

ITB Rector Prof. Tata was moved when meeting the three students in person, expressing admiration for their ability to achieve excellence despite financial hardships. He offered words of encouragement and motivation, urging them to persevere in their academic journey at ITB.

“At campus, you’ll meet many outstanding students. Keep doing your best and never lose hope,” said Prof. Tata.

The stories of Nauli, Devit, and Deka reflect the resilient spirit of Indonesia’s younger generation who refuse to be held back by economic hardship. Support from their families, communities, educational institutions, the government, and industry partners shows that dreams and aspirations can come true through hard work and collaboration.

The KIP-K program stands as a tangible solution, opening wide access to higher education for students with strong learning motivation but limited financial means.

The presence of ITB’s leadership, faculty members, and partners such as PT Paragon further strengthens ITB’s commitment to embracing outstanding students from all corners of the country, ensuring that quality higher education is a right for every child in Indonesia.

Translator: Indira Akmalia Hendri