The Indonesian Express
The Panasonic GOBEL group has once again awarded scholarships to 21 of Indonesia's best sons and daughters through the "Panasonic Scholarship" on July 29, 2024 at PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia, East Jakarta. This program, which has been consistently provided since 1999, has become one of the main pillars in our efforts to support higher education in Indonesia. Masayuki Sasage, President Director of PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia (PMI), said Panasonic believes that education is the key to creating positive change in society. By providing scholarships to outstanding students, Panasonic hopes to open up opportunities for students to develop their full potential and make a significant contribution to Indonesia's progress. "We are committed to continuing to support human resource development through the Panasonic Scholarship. Through this program, we hope to build bridges between Indonesia and Japan, strengthen the friendship between the two countries, and foster closer international cooperation. The scholarship recipients are expected to bring positive values for the progress of the homeland," said Sasage. The Panasonic Scholarship is one of the CSR programs of the Panasonic group globally. This program was first launched in 1988 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Panasonic Corporation in Japan, with the aim of providing scholarships to the best students in the Asian region so that they can contribute to their nation and country, and become ambassadors of friendship between their country and Japan. The Panasonic Scholarship in Indonesia has contributed to the Indonesian education sector for 26 consecutive years, providing scholarships to students from 1999 to 2024. In the first period, from 1999 to 2013, the Panasonic Scholarship Indonesia was awarded to 47 of the best S1 graduates from various universities to complete postgraduate programs (S2) at the best universities in Japan. Starting in 2014, the Panasonic Scholarship Corporation in Japan revamped its policy to offer scholarships for undergraduate and master's students to study in their home countries. By 2019, Panasonic Scholarship Indonesia expanded its program to include scholarships for vocational diploma students (D3/4). Over the 25 years from 1999 to 2023, the Panasonic Scholarship Indonesia has awarded scholarships to a total of 186 students, including 78 master's students in Japan and Indonesia, 86 undergraduates, and 22 diploma students. In 2024, Panasonic Scholarship Indonesia is set to grant scholarships to 21 students, comprising 2 PhD candidates, 3 master's students, 10 undergraduates, and 6 vocational diploma students from 7 universities and 6 polytechnics. Looking ahead to the next five years, from 2024 to 2028, Panasonic plans to continue the Panasonic Scholarship program and provide scholarships to 105 students in Indonesia. In his speech, Masayuki Sasage mentioned that this year's 21 scholarship recipients are outstanding students from prestigious universities and polytechnics in Indonesia. Panasonic hopes to see these scholars not only succeed in their careers but also inspire future generations. "Our hope is that each Panasonic Scholarship recipient becomes an agent of change in society. With the knowledge and skills they gain, we believe they will tackle various challenges and bring innovation across different fields. We are proud to be part of their journey toward a bright and hopeful future," concluded Sasage.