MAKASSAR – Hasanuddin University (Unhas) and Nickel Industries are collaborating to expand access to higher education through the 2026 Nickel Industries Scholarship Program. The partnership is a long-term investment in preparing young people from industrial areas to contribute to regional development while meeting Indonesia’s need for outstanding talent in the future.
Nickel Industries is a company engaged in nickel mining and processing with several projects in Indonesia, including in Morowali, Central Sulawesi. Besides supporting the strengthening of national mineral downstreaming, the company also runs various community empowerment programs. One of them is an investment in education, carried out with Unhas, to open access to higher education for sons and daughters from the company’s operating areas.
The 2026 Nickel Industries Scholarship Program is a full undergraduate (S1) scholarship resulting from the cooperation between Nickel Industries and Unhas, now entering its third year. Since it was launched in 2024, the program has consistently given 10 scholarship recipients a chance each year in the Morowali, North Maluku, and West Papua areas. With the third cohort in 2026, the program is focused on 10 of the best sons and daughters of Morowali, particularly from the operating areas of Hengjaya Mineralindo and the Sampala Project.
Besides covering tuition, the program also provides living and housing allowances. This approach shows that investment in education does not stop at paying for tuition, but also ensures that students have a supportive learning environment until they complete their studies. The selection process was competitive. Out of 27 applicants, ten students were ultimately chosen as Batch 3 scholarship recipients.
Nickel Industries Chief Executive Officer Justin Charles Werner said the company is proud to once again be part of the educational journey of Indonesia’s young generation. According to Werner, all of the scholarship recipients have demonstrated ability, character, and potential through a rigorous selection process.
“We thank Unhas, which has supported the selection process and provided mentoring to the first and second cohorts of students. We will continue to monitor the progress of your studies and are ready to provide support for the next four years. If you face difficulties in your studies, do not hesitate to contact us,” Justin said.
Justin added that education is a long-term investment that will produce innovation and future leaders. For that reason, Nickel Industries is committed to supporting the scholarship recipients until they complete their education, and hopes they will one day make a real contribution to Indonesia.
Unhas Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc., said the scholarship program is a valuable opportunity for young people to develop their academic potential while strengthening their leadership capacity.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity. Do not waste it. Unhas will ensure that all scholarship recipients receive optimal mentoring, both in their academic work and in developing their capacity. We want to make sure they can complete their studies with the best results,” said Prof. JJ.
Prof. JJ explained that the collaboration with Nickel Industries is also in line with the university’s commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially by providing quality education (SDG 4), reducing inequality in access to education (SDG 10), and strengthening partnerships between universities and industry (SDG 17).
According to the Rector, the program’s success does not end with the handover of the scholarships. Unhas will continue to mentor students and monitor their academic progress, as it has done for the first and second cohorts of scholarship recipients.
The Welcoming Ceremony for the Nickel Industries Scholarship recipients was held on Tuesday, 4 August, at 12:00 WITA (Central Indonesia Time) online via Zoom Cloud Meeting. The event was attended by Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs Prof. drg. Muhammad Ruslin, M.Kes., Ph.D., Sp.B.M.Mf., Subsp.Ortognat.D., faculty leaders, and Nickel Industries representatives: Chief Operating Officer Tony Green and the Chief Financial Officer of PT Hengjaya Mineralindo, who is also CFO of Nickel Industries Limited, Vijay N. Gopinathan Nair.
The scholarship recipients are:
1. Miftah Nur Azisah (Electrical Engineering)
2. Suci Ramadan (Mining Engineering)
3. Laila Delfi (Psychology)
4. Lestari Minggu Bone (Law)
5. Salsabila (Information Systems)
6. Elta Patanggu (Geological Engineering)
7. Arif Akbar (Chinese Language & Culture)
8. Akza Krisel Tabor Piamba (Accounting)
9. Ahmad Fahrezi (Civil Engineering)
10. Rasasti Oktavia (Forestry)
(*/mir)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.