How Muqaddas Sajjad, a Pakistani Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta Through the KNB Scholarship

My name is Muqaddas Sajjad, and I am from Karachi, Pakistan. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, as a recipient of the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship, Batch 2023.

Before coming to Indonesia, I completed my Higher Secondary Education (FA) in Humanities, where I studied subjects including Education, Economics, and Civics. I achieved an A grade in my high school examinations.

Apart from my academic qualifications, I also completed a one-year Montessori Directress Diploma in Early Childhood Education in Pakistan. Additionally, I have practical experience in the education sector, including:

• One year of internship as an Early Childhood Educator.
• One year of professional experience as a Montessori teacher.
• One year of experience teaching English to both children and adults.

Why Did I Choose Early Childhood Education?

My decision to pursue Early Childhood Education comes from my genuine interest in teaching children and contributing to their development.

I believe early childhood education is one of the most important stages of a person's life because it establishes the foundation for future learning, behaviour, and personality development.

When I explored education systems in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and China, I noticed the importance they place on early childhood education and the professional development of early childhood educators.

This inspired me to pursue this field more seriously.

My ambition is not limited to teaching children directly. In the future, I also want to train teachers and educate parents, particularly mothers, about effective approaches to children's learning and development. I believe parents and teachers both play essential roles in shaping a child's future.

That is why I decided to build my academic and professional career in Early Childhood Education.

KNB Scholarship Details

I received the KNB Scholarship, which is a fully funded scholarship offered by the Indonesian Government for international students from developing countries.

My scholarship covers several expenses, including:

• Full tuition fees.
• Health insurance.
• A monthly living stipend of IDR 5.5 million.
• One year of Bahasa Indonesia language preparation.

The stipend helps cover accommodation, daily living expenses, and other personal necessities.

The scholarship programme includes a total study period of approximately five years: one year of Bahasa Indonesia language preparation followed by four years of undergraduate education.

Before receiving the KNB Scholarship, I had not received any other international scholarship.

I also applied for the Korean Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), but I was not selected. One of the challenges was that Early Childhood Education was not available as a major in the programme I was considering.

How Did I Prepare for the KNB Scholarship Application?

My scholarship journey started with research.

I was searching on YouTube for fully funded international scholarships when I discovered the KNB Scholarship. After learning about the opportunity, I started researching Indonesia, its education system, and its economic development.

I became interested in Indonesia because of its growing economy, development, and educational opportunities.

I also contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Pakistan to ask when the scholarship application period would open. I was informed that applications would open in January.

After that, I started preparing my documents.

My preparation included:

• Getting my educational documents attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
• Preparing all the required academic and personal documents.
• Taking the IELTS examination, in which I achieved an overall band score of 6.5.

• Researching Indonesian universities that offered strong programmes in Education.
• Selecting Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta as my preferred university.
• Submitting my application and preparing for the scholarship interview.

Interestingly, IELTS was not a mandatory requirement for my application at that time. However, I decided to take the examination anyway because I wanted to strengthen my profile and demonstrate my English-language proficiency.

I also spent time researching universities in Indonesia to identify institutions with strong academic programmes in my chosen field. Through this research, I selected Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta.

Eventually, I submitted my application, participated in the interview process, and successfully received the KNB Scholarship.

Today, I am very happy to be studying in Indonesia.

My Experience at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta

I would rate my overall experience at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta around 7–8 out of 10.

It has been a positive experience so far. The university provides support to international students and makes efforts to ensure that they feel welcomed and included.

One of the most important aspects of my experience has been the support I receive from my lecturers and classmates.

My academic classes are conducted in Bahasa Indonesia. However, I have certain academic accommodations as an international student, including the opportunity to take examinations in English and write my thesis in English.

I would also describe my classroom environment as inclusive. My lecturers understand that I am an international student, and they are considerate of the challenges I may face while studying in another language.

Another important part of my journey was the mandatory one-year Bahasa Indonesia language programme. Learning the local language helped me adapt to Indonesian society, communicate with people, and understand the culture better.

Overall, studying at UNY has been a valuable academic and personal experience.

My Future Career Plans

After completing my Bachelor's degree, I want to gain professional experience in the international education sector.

My first goal is to obtain the necessary professional qualifications and certification to become a recognised early childhood educator in countries such as Singapore or Australia.

After obtaining the relevant qualifications and meeting the professional requirements, I would like to work in one of these countries.

In the long term, I want to expand my knowledge and experience in early childhood education and contribute to improving teaching practices.

I am particularly interested in working not only with children but also with teachers and parents. I want to help educators understand how children learn and how to create supportive environments for their development.

Language Skills and Preparing to Study Abroad

Pakistan is a country where English is widely used, particularly in education and professional environments. Therefore, many Pakistani students already have some familiarity with English before travelling abroad.

However, I believe that language preparation is still extremely important when applying for international scholarships.

Students should not focus only on the language of instruction. They should also be willing to learn the local language of the country where they plan to study.

For example, although my classes are conducted in Bahasa Indonesia, learning the language has helped me communicate with local people and become more comfortable in my surroundings.

My experience has taught me that language skills are not simply an application requirement. They are also essential for adapting to a new culture and building meaningful international connections.

What Made My Scholarship Application Stand Out?

In my opinion, one of the most important things that makes a scholarship application competitive is the connection between your previous experiences and your chosen field of study.

When I applied for the KNB Scholarship, I already had relevant experience in Early Childhood Education.

I had completed a Montessori diploma, participated in an internship, worked as a Montessori teacher, and gained experience teaching English to children and adults.

These experiences demonstrated that my interest in Early Childhood Education was not just theoretical. I had already invested time and effort in developing practical skills in this field.

I believe that if I had applied for an unrelated programme, such as Business Administration or Computer Science, my existing experience might not have supported my application in the same way.

Therefore, my advice to students is to start thinking seriously about their academic interests and career direction as early as possible.

After completing matriculation (Grade 10), students should explore different fields, identify their interests, and gradually develop relevant skills and experience.

For example, if you want to pursue Education, try to gain teaching experience, participate in educational internships, volunteer in schools, and obtain relevant certifications.

However, I also believe that students should not limit themselves to their academic fields.

It is equally important to develop general knowledge about international affairs, economics, geopolitics, and global developments.

When you study abroad, you meet people from different countries and backgrounds. Having an understanding of the world beyond your own academic discipline helps you participate in meaningful discussions and develop a broader perspective.

You do not need to know everything, but you should have a basic understanding of important global issues.

Finally, I would emphasise the importance of language skills, practical experience, academic preparation, and a clear sense of direction.

What Would I Do Differently If I Applied Again?

Honestly, I would not change much about my previous application journey because I believe the experiences I gained helped me become a suitable candidate for my chosen programme.

However, if I were preparing to apply for a Master's scholarship, I would focus on strengthening my academic and professional profile even further.

For example, I would try to:

• Publish or contribute to academic research papers.
• Obtain additional professional certifications in Early Childhood Education.
• Pursue recognised qualifications that support my goal of becoming a certified early childhood teacher.
• Gain more research and practical experience in my field.

I believe these additional achievements would help me establish stronger academic credibility and demonstrate my commitment to the profession.

My overall approach would remain the same: build a strong foundation in your chosen field, gain practical experience, improve your language skills, and continue developing yourself academically and professionally.

My advice to future scholarship applicants is simple: Do not apply just because a scholarship is fully funded. Apply because you have a genuine interest in the field, the relevant preparation, and a clear vision of what you want to achieve through that opportunity.