Dompu, May 31, 2025 — The scholarship program of PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM), a copper exploration company holding a 7th Generation Contract of Work (CoW), has successfully supported students from Dompu Regency in achieving accomplishments at both national and international levels. Since 2021, STM has provided 109 scholarship slots for the youth of Dompu. These students are enrolled in various universities across Indonesia in diverse fields of study.
The scholarship is one of STM’s active contributions to improving the quality of education in Dompu. Based on data from the Dompu Regency Office of Population and Civil Registration in 2024, the number of D1–S3 (Diploma to Doctorate) graduates in the region is only 19.965, or about 7,19 percent of the total population. The scholarship program aims to increase the number of highly qualified university graduates who can contribute to the development of the region.
Darmansyah Putra, a young man from Daha Village, Hu’u District, is one of the 2021 STM scholarship recipients who has made notable achievements. As a Geological Engineering student at AKPRIND University Yogyakarta, he won 1st Place in the Student Research Poster Competition at the 2024 Indonesian Society of Economic Geologists (MGEI) Convention. He was also a finalist for abstract and poster presentations at the 2024 Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) event in Namibia, Africa.
Another inspiring story comes from Dede Ramadhan, an Agroecotechnology student at Brawijaya University in Malang. He is a 2023 STM scholarship recipient from Kandai 1 Subdistrict, Dompu District. Dede won 1st Place in the 2024 College Students Essay Competition at the University of Jember. He also earned a Silver Medal at the 2024 Youth International Science Fair in the technology category, competing among approximately 2.400 participants from 16 countries.
The success stories continue with Salahudin, a Nursing Science student at Tribhuwana Tunggadewi University (UNITRI) in Malang. He is a 2023 STM scholarship recipient from Bakajaya Village, Woja District. Salahudin’s remarkable achievements include being named the Best Graduate at both faculty and university levels for UNITRI’s 2025 undergraduate program, as well as winning 2nd Place in the 2023 National Nursing Skill Lab Competition.
Salahudin stated that his achievements would not have been possible without the support of various parties, especially STM through its scholarship program. “I want to express my deepest gratitude. Thanks to the scholarship I received from PT Sumbawa Timur Mining, I was able to complete my studies quickly and without obstacles. That’s what I’m truly grateful for,” he said on Thursday (29/5), just a few days after his graduation ceremony.
The Head of the Dompu Regency Office of Education, Youth, and Sports (Dikpora), Drs. H. Rifaid, M.Pd., said that STM’s support in advancing human resources in Dompu goes beyond formal education and extends to non-formal education as well. According to him, STM frequently collaborates with the local government on various educational programs, even starting from early childhood education (PAUD). “This reflects the company’s commitment to advancing the region where it operates,” he stated on Friday (30/5).
Rifaid added that STM’s other collaborations also include the development of teacher capacity and school education management. This is carried out through various seminars and intensive training sessions. “These are good practices that may not have been fully utilized by teachers in Dompu before,” Rifaid said.
STM’s Community Relations Manager, Ulya Defretes, stated that the higher education scholarship program is part of STM’s integrated education development initiatives, aligned with educational programs promoted by the local government. In addition to college scholarships, there are also programs such as student seminars and training, improvement of teaching staff quality, and support for educational infrastructure.
“Last year, we also provided full scholarships for 100 students from Dompu Regency for a specialized study program, it was D1 in Heavy Equipment Engineering at the Olat Maras Community Academy (AKOM) in Sumbawa Regency. All of our efforts are a testament to our commitment to enhancing the quality of education and human resources in Dompu Regency, for a brighter future of the region,” Ulya said.
For its commitment to educational development programs, STM was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2024 Indonesian SDGs Awards (ISDA) for its Education Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP) and the Gold Medal at the 2024 Indonesian CSR Awards (ICA) for its Achievement Scholarship Program. In the same year, STM was also named “The Most Committed Company in Community Engagement and Development” by the Corporate Forum for CSR Development (CFCD).
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About PT Sumbawa Timur Mining
PT Sumbawa Timur Mining (STM) is a joint venture between Eastern Star Resources Pty Ltd (80%), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vale Base Metals, and PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (20%). STM owns the Hu’u Project, a copper exploration project operating under the 7th Generation Mineral Contract of Work (CoW) in Hu’u District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
The CoW also holds geothermal resources. To explore this potential, the company has completed the Preliminary Survey and Geothermal Exploration Assignment. The CoW area spans 19,260 hectares across Dompu and Bima Regency. STM is continuing its journey to achieve its vision of becoming a world-class copper mining operation supported by renewable energy.
For further information, please contact STM Communication Team
