Tanoto Foundation held its yearly event of Tanoto Scholars Gathering at Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, 22 – 25 November 2017. The Gathering aims to provide recipients of Tanoto Foundation scholarships or Tanoto Scholars with various soft skills such as teamwork and leadership was attended by 250 participants from 21 universities.

The interesting experience gained by Tanoto Scholars in the 2017 Tanoto Scholars Gathering involved an industrial visit to the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) Group’s company. They were brought to visit several locations, among others: palm oil processing plant, oil palm plantation, paper-processing plant, acacia nurseries, and technology development center.

The Tanoto Scholars’ first visit was to an oil palm plantation managed by Asian Agri in the Buatan area, Kecamatan Pangkalan Kerinci, Kabupaten Pelalawan, Riau. The scholars obtained important lessons such as environmental-friendly and sustainable palm oil plantation management, which involves among others the use natural predators such as owls to eradicate rat pests.

Participants were then brought to visit PT Inti Indosawit Subur’s factory. In this palm oil processing plant, Tanoto Scholars were able to gain knowledge on palm oil processing from palm kernels into crude palm oil which is further processed into ready-made products. Tanoto Scholars were also able to gain knowledge on the distribution of palm oil products exported to several countries in the world.

During their visit to Kerinci Central Nursery owned by the APRIL group, Tanoto Scholars learned about industrial forest tree breeding using state-of-the-art technology. This nursery produces quality acacia tree seedlings that can grow optimally and be harvested in a short time.

From the nursery, the participants were brought to the paper processing factory and its packing process. The use of advanced technology in the factory was a new experience for the participants.

The Tanoto Scholars also had an opportunity to visit the APRIL group’s community development activities related to Rumah Batik Andalan and the implementation of Integrated Agricultural System program. Here, they learned about community empowerment programs that are supported by the company.

Jakarta, January 15, 2018 – Tanoto Foundation’s flagship scholarships of the National Champion Scholarship program for the year of 2018 has been opened. As in previous years, it is expected that applicants will overwhelm the Tanoto Foundation’s official website, considering the Tanoto Foundation scholarship registrations are only processed through the official website at staging2-tanotofoundation-org.averis.emerain.net. In 2017, the National Champion Scholarship program attracted more than 12,000 applicants.

The Tanoto Foundation’s National Champion Scholarship program, which has been going on since 2006, represents the materialization of a private philanthropic institution’s role in improving access to education. According to an annual report from the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia, the gross enrollment rate in 2016 has only reached 28.10 percent. This means that only less than a third of college-age youths are able to study in colleges/universities.

The scholarship program also aims to develop Indonesia’s future leaders. The Tanoto Foundation scholarship recipients, or called Tanoto Scholars, in addition to supports in tuition fees and pocket money, also receive various soft skill trainings, such as public speaking, writing, presentation, as well as leadership and teamwork.

“Taking part in developing Indonesia’s future leaders is a mandate from the founders of Tanoto Foundation, Mr. Sukanto Tanoto and Mrs. Tinah Bingei Tanoto. To implement this message from the founders, Tanoto Foundation provides support through various scholarship programs, one of which is the National Champion Scholarship, “said Sihol Aritonang, Chairman of the Tanoto Foundation Management.

“Through this flagship scholarship program, Tanoto Foundation would like to pass on Mr. Sukanto Tanoto’s leadership values to the scholarship recipients. First, lifelong learning. Second, leading begins with self, then leading others. Third is care for the community,” continued Sihol Aritonang.

Registration of the National Champion Scholarship program is open until the end of February 2018. To be accepted as Tanoto Scholars, applicants must pass through three stages of selection, the first concerns administrative document verification, the second concerns psychological tests, and the last concerns interview tests. The results of each stage will be announced officially on the Tanoto Foundation website. To date, more than 2,900 undergraduate (S1) and graduate (S2) students have been awarded scholarship support of the National Champion Scholarship program spread across 12 partner universities.

The Tanoto Foundation’s National Champion Scholarship program for 2018 admission year is reopened. As in previous years, it is estimated that applicants will overwhelm the official Tanoto Foundation Website. It is a fact that, starting in 2017, the Tanoto Foundation scholarship registration is only processed through the official Website at https://www.tanotofoundation.org/.

Tanoto Foundation has become one of the largest scholarship beneficiaries in Indonesia. In partnership with 35 universities, both public and private, to date it has awarded scholarships to more than 2,900 undergraduate (S1) and postgraduate (S2) students.

Every Tanoto Foundation scholarship recipient, otherwise known as Tanoto Scholars, receives supports for tuition fees and pocket money. Aside from that, various trainings for the improvement of soft skill are provided to Tanoto Scholars on a regular basis, including public speaking, blogging, presentation techniques in English, and the capacity to lead and work together in teams.

Tanoto Scholars are also encouraged to carry out social activities as a form of pay-it-forward benefits received from Tanoto Foundation to the community. Through the Tanoto Scholars Association, they design and carry out social activities in their respective areas. All these activities have the support of Tanoto Foundation.

The most anticipated event is the annual Tanoto Scholars Gathering (TSG) event. This activity brings together Tanoto Scholars from all over Indonesia. In TSG, Tanoto Scholars can build a network of friends and learn from one another in their midst. There are also several exciting activities, including talk shows from national figures, soft skill training, industry visits to Royal Golden Eagle Group companies, as well as various games in the outbound session.

To be accepted as Tanoto Scholars, there are three stages applicants must undergo, namely verification of administrative documents, psycho test, and the last is interview test. The results of each stage will be announced officially on the Tanoto Foundation website.

Abraham Madison Manurung, a Tanoto Scholar from Institut Pertanian Bogor (Bogor Agricultural Institute) gives little tips for passing the selection. “First, read the information from the Website thoroughly so that no requirements are missed. Second, do not be bashful to ask other Tanoto Scholars at your campus to get a picture of the selection process. And do not be a deadliner, or register at the last moment, because usually we make a lot of mistakes when we have to hurry to register at the end of the deadline, “said Abraham.

“Before you decide to join and get a scholarship from Tanoto Foundation, you must first understand the values that are the main principles at Tanoto Foundation,” said Agata Ayu Gita, a Tanoto Scholar from University of Indonesia.

Want to be part of Tanoto Scholars big family? Come on, sign up soon.