I remember when the LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) Scholarship 2024 Batch 2 opened its application period from June to August 2024. As an Indonesian who dreams of pursuing higher education, I was naturally very eager to apply for this prestigious scholarship.
However, the scholarship’s age requirement put a damper on my plans, forcing me to throw in the towel before I had even started. The thing is, the high qualifications required and the fierce competition for this prestigious scholarship mean that preparing for it takes considerable time. At this stage of my life, I wasn’t confident that I could meet all the requirements within the given timeframe.
Let’s put my rather hopeless LPDP scholarship hunt aside for a moment. Meanwhile, someone I know was struggling to find a job after taking a career hiatus following childbirth to take care of her baby. Her several years of experience as a frontliner at a bank didn’t make it any easier for her to find a new job. Once again, there was only one obstacle standing in her way: age.
These are just a few examples of the many dreams and aspirations that people are forced to put on hold because of age requirements. It is no secret that most companies in Indonesia routinely include a maximum age requirement for job applicants. It is hardly surprising, then, that many Indonesians choose to pursue careers abroad, where age requirements are often considered more flexible, and salaries are relatively higher.
The same goes for education. At the undergraduate level, most public universities in Indonesia (PTNs) generally accept applicants up to the age of 25 (Kompas.com). Apart from LPDP, most domestic scholarships I know of also impose a maximum age limit. This is quite different from overseas scholarships, which are more flexible in terms of age, such as Chevening, Fulbright, and others.
Everyone Has Their Own Timeline
Age limits for jobs and education can be a major source of anxiety for some people, especially those who do not have the privilege of a smooth, obstacle-free path through life.
And privilege is not simply about money or material wealth. It can also be about health, life choices, and family responsibilities.
Some of us may have to work first and save up for tuition, which means starting our careers later, while others have already climbed the corporate ladder and taken on strategic positions.
Others may face physical or mental health challenges that require time to recover.
Some people may also find themselves dealing with responsibilities that simply cannot be put on the back burner, such as caring for elderly parents or sick family members, being a single parent, or raising children full-time. And the list goes on.
We are all just human beings, not robots.
Everyone has their own timeline in life. Despite all the challenges and obstacles they may face, I believe these circumstances do not diminish their potential or their desire to learn and build a career. They should therefore be given the same opportunities, without being discriminated against because of their age.
Here’s Where the Demographic Dividend Comes In
Age discrimination in various areas of life in Indonesia is, in part, connected to the country’s demographic dividend. This refers to a situation in which the proportion of people of working age (15–64) is larger than that of the non-working-age population (children and older adults). Together they account for more than 60% of the total population.
It is called a “dividend“ because it means a country has a significant opportunity for economic growth thanks to its large working-age population. For companies, this can also be an advantage because it increases their chances of finding competent employees.
On the other hand, having such a large working-age population also means fiercer competition in the job market. Companies become more selective when recruiting employees. They have more room to set their desired qualifications, one of which is to impose age limits on prospective employees rather than focus on skills and experience.
As a result, the demographic dividend not only brings benefits. It can also potentially contribute to rising unemployment.
And when it comes to education and scholarships, everything comes down to age again. It’s not just about employment opportunities. Even joining certain communities or volunteering for certain organizations can come with age restrictions.
Does being “older” automatically mean that someone has lost their cognitive abilities and is therefore no longer worthy of pursuing higher education?
Getting Older Doesn’t Mean We’re Past Our Prime
Starting a career or pursuing higher education later in life is often seen as being “too late.” There is a common perception that as we get older, we become less creative, less adaptable, or less capable of keeping up with younger generations.
Sometimes, we may even start to believe it ourselves. We might shrug it off and say, “Well, that’s just what happens as you get older.”
Of course, we cannot deny that our bodies change as we age. Some bodily functions naturally decline over time, and we may not have quite the same energy or stamina that we had when we were younger. But does that necessarily mean we have less potential to learn, grow, work, or pursue something new?
I don’t think so.
Some age-related changes are simply part of being human. But getting older does not mean that every part of us has to stop growing.
For me, that is where mindset comes in.
We may have different priorities and circumstances at different stages of life. Some things may become harder than they were when we were younger.
But that does not mean our capacity to learn and grow suddenly ends.
We can still learn new skills or pick up another language. We can explore a new field, pursue further education, or even consider a different career path. These choices may open doors that might otherwise remain closed because of our age.
I’m not saying it will be easy for everyone. We do not all have the same time, resources, or support. These opportunities may not always be within reach.
But when they are, they can give us a chance to adapt and discover new possibilities.
In my case, if LPDP is no longer a realistic option because of its age requirement, that does not necessarily mean I have to give up on my dream of pursuing further education altogether. One opportunity may not work for me, but that doesn’t automatically mean every opportunity is gone.
I can still explore other scholarships that do not impose a maximum age limit. Having more flexibility with time could also give me more room to prepare myself.
So, maybe the real question isn’t whether we’re too old to begin again, but whether we’re willing to let age tell us we shouldn’t.
