TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Student Association Worldwide (PPI Dunia) has expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in exposing a fake internship scheme that affected hundreds of Indonesian students with false promises of employment in Germany. The scandal, involving over a thousand students from 33 universities, came to light after four victims reported the issue to the Indonesian Embassy in Germany.
Hamzah Assuudy Lubis, the Coordinator of PPI Dunia, stated in an official release, "As a student organization spread across various countries, we highly appreciate the police's efforts in uncovering this case. We were also unaware of the exploitation of students in Germany under the guise of internships," explained Hamzah, on March 27, 2024.
PPI Dunia lauded the actions of General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the Chief of Indonesian National Police, and Brigadier General Pol. Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, the Head of the Task Force for the Eradication of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO), for their courage in bringing the TPPO case to public attention. It is known that many victims were afraid and suffered losses due to this scam, which targeted students exclusively.
Furthermore, Hamzah stated that his organization is willing to assist the police if necessary. "We are ready to provide the necessary information, especially regarding overseas students. This is also PPI Dunia's commitment to protecting Indonesian students," he said.
In addition, Hamzah urged all students in Indonesia to be cautious when considering internship programs abroad. He advised students interested in foreign internships to communicate and coordinate with PPI Dunia or the respective country's PPI. "At least, stay in touch with us so we can connect you with the local PPI in the destination country, to avoid similar incidents," Hamzah clarified.
Choirul Anam, the head of the Alumni Connect of PPI Dunia, echoed this sentiment. He stated that his organization is ready to support the Polri in investigating this case. "We are particularly focused on student information exchange. That is our role in this matter," he stated on March 27, 2024.
Therefore, Choirul Anam continued, collaboration in information exchange among educational institutions, the government, and student organizations is expected to reduce the risk of fraud that harms many Indonesian students in the future.
For your information, the exposure of the fake internship scheme in Germany has sparked a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at educating Indonesian students about the potential risks of fraudulent programs. Authorities have emphasized the importance of thorough verification before enrolling in any overseas internship programs.
To further protect students, the Indonesian government, in coordination with PPI Dunia and other stakeholders, is developing a verification system for foreign internships. This system will include a list of approved and credible programs to ensure that students do not fall victim to similar scams in the future.
In response to the incident, the Indonesian National Police have intensified their investigations, tracking down the individuals and organizations behind the fake internship offers. Efforts are underway to bring those responsible to justice and to recover any losses suffered by the students.
Educational institutions in Indonesia are also taking action, with universities enhancing their advisory services to guide students in choosing legitimate international opportunities. They are working closely with PPI Dunia and other organizations to provide accurate information and support to students planning to study or intern abroad. (*)
**) Ikuti berita terbaru TIMES Indonesia di Google News klik link ini dan jangan lupa di follow.
Advertisement
| Editor | : Khodijah Siti |
| Publisher | : Ahmad Rizki Mubarok |
