Every year, Indonesia’s most driven young professionals arrive at NUS Business School not just with ambitions, but with a clear mandate to bring those ambitions home.
Made possible by LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan), Indonesia’s prestigious government scholarship, these students pursue world-class postgraduate education with a sense of purpose that goes far beyond the classroom.
We spoke with Lentera Bintang Renjana, a current MSc in Sustainable and Green Finance student at NUS Business School and LPDP scholar, about what the scholarship means to him and how it has shaped his time at NUS.
“LPDP has made my studies at NUS more meaningful because it gives me a very clear sense of purpose,” Lentera shares.
Instead of learning only for knowledge, he approaches the MSc as a way “to explore ideas more seriously and think about how they can work in practice.”
Importantly, he sees the classroom as a place to pressure-test his goals: “Through the classroom, I’m able to test, refine, and strengthen my contribution plan,” he says, explaining how this makes his learning feel “more grounded and relevant.”
“With a stronger academic foundation, I’ve gained the opportunity to eventually apply what I’ve learnt back home,” he says.
His focus is clear: “By studying at NUS, I’m gaining the knowledge, perspective, and exposure needed to better understand how green finance can support Indonesia’s transition.” That combination of technical learning and practical discussion helps him move from interest to direction, and from direction to a plan he can execute.
When asked about a moment of gratitude, Lentera points first to community. “Beyond the financial support, I’m grateful for the sense of community that LPDP has given me,” he says. “During my studies, I’ve met fellow awardees and alumni who have been so generous with their time, advice, and kindness. Their experiences have really helped me adjust to living abroad and think more clearly about my future goals.”
Even with different backgrounds, he describes a shared experience: “It feels like we’re going through this journey together.” And the support is not only emotional, it’s practical too. As he puts it candidly, “some of my career opportunities, tips for accommodation, and even food recommendations came from LPDP alumni too.”
With LPDP’s purpose in mind, Lentera approached his time at NUS with intention. He also focused on building real capability: “I want to find relevant projects that can help me build the skills for my contribution plan,” while also learning from peers and industry experts around him.
For students considering an MSc at NUS Business School with LPDP support, Lentera’s advice is both encouraging and practical: “Don’t be afraid to show your personality and your ideas,” he says. He emphasises that “your ideas don’t need to be perfect from the start,” and that it’s okay to “question them, reshape them, and let them grow.”
He also reframes feedback as a positive sign: “If people are critical, that’s not always a bad thing,” Lentera adds. “Often, it means you’re building a stronger foundation.”
Lentera’s story shows what LPDP support can enable at NUS Business School: an MSc journey shaped by purpose, strengthened through rigorous learning, and sustained by a community that supports both ambition and adjustment abroad.
If you’re exploring NUS Business School MSc programmes and want to understand how scholarships like LPDP can support a purpose-driven postgraduate journey, learn more about the programme pathways and hear more student stories like Lentera’s here.
