Congratulations to the sixty-one Indonesians who will embark on their Fulbright journey in 2026. Coming from Langsa in Aceh to Jayapura in Papua, they will pursue master’s and doctoral degree studies, conduct postdoctoral research, or participate in professional development for teachers in the US.

Beyond their classroom activities, they will learn about American culture, engage actively with their host communities, and foster meaningful people-to-people connections during their time in the United States, implementing the spirit of the Fulbright program.

This year’s cohort includes university lecturers, teachers, researchers, civil servants, nonprofit practitioners, healthcare, and private-sector professionals. They are divided into six Fulbright program categories: twenty Master’s Degree grantees, twelve Doctoral Degree grantees, fourteen Visiting Scholars, four Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers (Fulbright DAI), one Hubert H. Humprey fellow, and ten Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants. Their profiles on the AMINEF website can be found here.

To help prepare them to thrive during their Fulbright activities in the U.S., AMINEF hosted the Fulbright Awards Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO), which began with a virtual session on June 3 – 4 and continued with an in-person format on June 10 – 11, 2026.

Participants were welcomed by AMINEF Executive Director Dr. Sandra Hamid and Mr. Jason Rebholz, Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy Jakarta. All grantees were formally introduced and recognized, including fourteen American Fulbrighters currently in Indonesia. Adding to the day’s positive spirit, alumni and current Indonesian Fulbright grantees in the United States shared congratulatory messages in a video compilation. It really was a time designed to celebrate the grantees for having endured a long Fulbright selection process.

The orientation itself provided guidance and practical information through sessions led by representatives from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Indonesian Fulbright alumni, and American Fulbright alumni and grantees. Topics included intercultural communication, adjusting to academic and social life in the United States, international travel preparation, sharing Fulbright experiences in public sphere and building Fulbright connections with their American peers.

The orientation concluded with a gala dinner that began with remarks from Ms. Anna Richey-Allen, the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. Quoting Senator Fulbright, Ms. Richey-Allen reminded the Fulbrighters of the importance of this exchange program – and while the exchange program is not the answer to all the world’s problems, but it certainly is “an avenue of hope.”

The evening also featured a keynote speech by Dr. Fainmarinat Inabuy, a Fulbright alumna and molecular biologist from Kupang. In a moving reflection of her own Fulbright experience, Dr. Inabuy encouraged the grantees to remain focused on the aspirations that brought them to the program. She also reminded them that knowledge and expertise are most meaningful when accompanied by empathy and a commitment to serving others.

The evening also featured a cultural performance by NonaRia, whose repertoire of Indonesian and American songs reflected the spirit of cultural exchange.

Through an anonymous post-event survey, one grantee shared, “I found it very meaningful to have the opportunity to talk and engage in discussions with Fulbright alumni, U.S. students and scholars, and my fellow current Fulbright grantees. Listening to their experiences, insights, and advice broadened my perspective and gave me a better understanding of the academic and cultural journey that lies ahead. It was also a great opportunity to build connections and learn from one another.”

Upon completing their grants, the 2026 cohort will join a growing network of more than 3,400 proud Indonesian Fulbright alumni who have contributed their knowledge and expertise in various fields, in Indonesia and globally.

We look forward to following their experiences and learning about the contributions they will make during their grants and beyond.