February 14, 2026 | 07:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announced that he will allocate Rp100 billion to the University of Indonesia (UI) through the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP).
He made the announcement during his keynote speech at the Graduation Ceremony for UI Undergraduate and Vocational Programs for the 2025/2026 Academic Year at Balairung, UI Campus, Depok, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Purbaya admitted to maintaining a strong connection with UI, particularly during his tenure as the Chairperson of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS). During that time, he allocated a budget to support programs at the Faculty of Engineering (FT) that collaborated with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
"So, we sent three UI students to Berkeley every year, and they received high appreciation there. This is already the second or third wave to Berkeley, but I am no longer with LPS," Purbaya said.
When he transitioned from LPS to become the Finance Minister, Purbaya thought he would have less capital, but found the opposite. "Apparently, I have even more money; I can say that I control LPDP, which now has an endowment fund of Rp150 trillion to be used for educational programs," he stated.
Purbaya acknowledged that UI's global ranking is currently below 200, which indicates that its standing is improving. However, President Prabowo Subianto has requested that the position be improved to the top 100, providing him with a reason to continue supporting the campus now led by Heri Hermansyah.
Purbaya stated that this year, the plan is to support UI with Rp100 billion. "So, later on, the Student Executive Board (BEM) should not protest anymore," he said while laughing.
Purbaya then asked the UI graduates what they want to become for the Republic of Indonesia. He believes that being a student is simple, noting that besides studying, when inequality arises, one simply takes to the streets, creates a commotion, protests, and it is over.
"Now, you can't do that anymore, because soon you will be the ones determining the future economic direction and the nation's future, and soon you will be the ones protested by the BEMs below you. So, if you are smart, teach them that in the future, they shouldn't protest too much and should focus on studying so that they won't be protested," Purbaya said.
During the event, Purbaya jokingly mentioned that he was initially afraid to deliver a keynote speech at UI. He recalled that on his first day as Finance Minister, he was greeted by the UI Student Executive Board (BEM UI) protesting for his resignation in front of the DPR Building.
"What they don't know is that I used to be a lecturer at UI, so if you challenge me to a debate, you will definitely lose; I was a lecturer for a Ph.D. in Business Economics while you were still students at the time," Purbaya joked.
In response to the assistance, UI Rector Heri Hermansyah revealed that in 2022, while serving as the Dean of FT UI, he collaborated with the LPS chaired by Purbaya. "That was only with the Faculty of Engineering. Now, it involves university-level and multi-faculty activities, internationalization, and international cooperation involving all faculties in order to chase and improve world rankings," he said.
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