Melihat Sisi Lain Dunia Membangun Indonesia

Mahasiswa adalah salah satu komponen dari perubahan yang diharapkan segera terjadi menuju Indonesia yang lebih. Sudah terlalu banyak nama pemuda Indonesia dengan prestasi mengagumkan yang dengan tidak beruntungnya tidak menemukan fasilitas yang mendukung untuk mengembangkan ilmunya di bumi pertiwi ini. Salah satu penyebabnya tentulah kurangnya apresiasi pada kalangan intelektual nasional, mulai dari fasilitas riset yang kurang, kurangnya bantuan dana hingga lemahnya pendidikan di Indonesia dalam tingkat strata-2 dan 3. Dengan demikian mahasiswa Indonesia selayaknya berusaha menuntut ilmu di luar negeri yang notabene menyediakan kesempatan lebih baik.
Kebanyakan dari kita selalui dihantui ketakutan bahwa kita tidak cukup berkualifikasi untuk belajar di sana. Sebagai contoh, kendala kemampuan berbahasa selalu menjadi salah satu hal yang paling sering disebutkan. Nilai tes TOEFL, IELTS atau IBT yang selalu tinggi membuat sebagian besar mahasiswa Indonesia gentar, apalagi ditambah alasan dengan hambatan komunikasi yang mungkin terjadi saat kita belajar di luar negeri. Padahal perlu diketahui bahwa di negara lain kita akan menjumpai banyak mahasiswa dari berbagai negara dengan kemjemukan dan kemampuan berbahasa yang berbeda. Seharusnya kondisi ini dapat lebih mendorong kita untuk belajar bahasa karena kita berada di lingkungan yang tepat.
Faktor selanjutnya yang tentu menjadi prioritas adalah biaya. Banyak mahasiswa yang tidak menyadari keberadaan beasiswa internasional yang dapat menjadi solusi dari permasalahan ini. Adanya internet seharusnya lebih bisa dimanfaatkan oleh mahasiswa kita untuk mencari informasi yang berguna seperti ini daripada sekedar membuka website terpopuler di Indonesia saat ini, Friendster. Even-even pameran pendidikan yang diadakan oleh lembaga-lembaga baik dalam maupun luar negeri dapat dimanfaatkan lebih maksimal untuk memperoleh informasi beasiswa yang lebih jelas. Dengan prasarana yang begitu tersedia di sekitar kita, tentu tidak layak untuk mengatakan bahwa kita tidak tahu akan hal itu.
Belajar di luar negeri memberikan pelbagai manfaat bagi kita. Selain karena fasilitas yang lebih baik, kita bisa menambah wawasan melalui interaksi dengan mahasiswa lain, mempromosikan indonesia serta yang terutama ikut membangun dunia pendidikan Indonesia ke depan. Meraih beasiswa dan belajar di luar negeri adalah melihat sisi lain dunia, membangun Indonesia.
 Luvdhy W. Sasing ‘07
 Dept. Kesma BEM FIB Unair
Dept. Kesma FIB Unair mempersembahkan salah satu contoh besaiswa tersebut :
 

HSP Huygens Programme

The prestigious HSP Huygens Programme is open to excellent students from all countries of the world. It is aimed at talented students who want to come to the Netherlands in the final phase of their bachelor’s studies or during their master’s studies. 
The Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science has made seven million euros available for excellent students coming to the Netherlands under the HSP Huygens Programme. There is no fixed number of available scholarships. The actual number is determined by the total cost of the variable components of the scholarships.
Your HSP Huygens application must include: 
Print out of the digital application form (signed).
Your personal HSP Huygens nomination letter.
Your curriculum vitae.
Copies of relevant diplomas, certificates and transcripts. 
A reasoned account of your motivation for wanting to study or do research in the Netherlands (about one side of an A4-sized sheet). 
Two letters of reference. 
A copy of your passport or identity card.
Explanation of the required documents
Do not include original documents in your dossier, but make single-sided copies of relevant documents on plain A4-sized paper. All documents must be in either English or Dutch. Documents in any other language must be accompanied by an official translation.
The HSP Huygens nomination letter
The nomination letter is a standardized form used by the institution to provide Nuffic with some details about your unique attributes and your proposed programme of study. The nomination letter from the Dutch institution is a required document for your application for a HSP Huygens Scholarship. Without this nomination letter it is not possible to apply for the HSP Huygens Programme.
Your motivation must include the following points:
- Why you have chosen this study programme or why you have chosen to do the proposed research in het Netherlands.
- What value the programme would add to your previous education.
- What the Dutch programme would mean for your future career.
The letters of reference should be on the institution’s official notepaper (headed paper) and must be signed and dated (a scanned version of your letters of references is acceptable). They must also include:
- Your name.
- The name, position, institution and department of the referee (and their relationship to the candidate).
- Description of the candidate’s excellent academic ability.
- At least one of which should be from your home country or the country where you are currently studying.
Note: Students wishing to follow a professional programme in the fine arts or performing arts should not include a portfolio or samples of their work (e.g. photos or a CD) as these will not be assessed.
Completing your application
If you have collected all required documents for your application, complete the digital application form through the Scholarships Online button. Once you have submitted the digital application, you can then send your documents by post or courier. 
Selection procedure
The most important criterion is top quality in all senses of the word. The Minister for Education has appointed a special committee to assess quality. The committee makes its assessment based solely on your application dossier. 
There are no selection interviews. All aspects of your application dossier are considered when your application is assessed. The committee considers the following aspects:
Your study history and pace.
Your diplomas and grades.
Your nomination letter.
Your reference letters.
The strength of your written motivation setting out why you have chosen this study programme in the Netherlands and the value it can add to your prior education.
The importance of the Dutch programme for your future career.
How well the proposed studies match your previous education.
Extracurricular activities.
You will be informed on the decision of the selection committee as soon as possible after 1 May 2009. The outcome will be published on our website first. We will send all applicants an e-mail explaining how to access this information. You will also receive a letter by regular mail on the outcome of your application.
If you are selected your host institution will in most cases be of service by making arrangements for any practical matters, such as your accommodation, your healthcare insurance and applying for a residence permit.

Taken from : www.nesoindonesia.or.id and www.jasso.go.jp/ryugaku/