<![CDATA[The Indonesia Smart Card for Higher Education policy is intended to expand access to university education for academically capable students from economically disadvantaged households. This study analyzes the implementation of the policy at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences Yapis Biak and identifies the factors that constrain its delivery. A qualitative approach was employed using George C. Edwards III’s framework of communication, resources, implementer disposition, and bureaucratic structure. Data were collected through interviews with program administrators, recipients, and applicants who had not received assistance, supported by observation and document review. The data were analyzed through condensation, categorization, display, conclusion drawing, and triangulation across sources, techniques, and time. The findings show that implementation has generally functioned well. Information has been disseminated through orientation activities, social media, the institutional website, messaging groups, printed announcements, and direct consultation. Administrators have assisted registration and document verification, shown a responsive service commitment, and followed the available procedures. Nevertheless, implementation remains constrained by declining recipient quotas, unstable internet access and digital systems, delayed documents, uneven applicant assistance, limited factual verification, and concerns about targeting accuracy. The archipelagic setting increases reliance on administrative documents and intensifies coordination fragmentation. The study recommends layered data validation, risk-based factual verification, transparent selection information, accessible applicant assistance, stronger information systems, and affirmative quota allocation for Papua.]]>
