Make Breakthroughs to Catch Up the Changed Landscapes, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, attends the National Leadership Meeting of Hanura Party on Friday (4/8), in Kuta, Bali

Currently, global conditions change rapidly and they are real. Not to mention 10 years from now the generation Y/millennials (born in 1981–2000) will change and drive Indonesia’s market,  as well as affect Indonesia’s political and economic conditions.

That statement was made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in his remarks at National Leadership Meeting of Hanura Party on Friday (4/8), in Kuta, Bali.

They (generation Y) do not read newspaper, nor watch television anymore. They prefer to use gadget, smartphone, the President added. “They only have their gadgets to read news, watch movie, or TV shows on Netflix, for example. We must take into account those kind of changes, because it will contribute to the new landscapes on the economy and politics, be it globally, nationally, or regionally,” the President said.

Therefore, President Jokowi reminded all that we must be ready to face the transition of the generation, because they are the one who will drive our market as well as political and economic conditions.

The President futher said that once the infrastructure development is implemented, the next step is to develop human resources. “We must do it because the preparation to face global competition should be prepared perfectly and in details,” President Jokowi asserted.

According to the President, education in vocational schools, universities, and trainings should not be a monotonous routine any longer. We must be able to make breakthroughs.

The President also cited the example of vocational school’s majors which have not changed for years, including architecture, electricity, and machinery. The majors can be changed to adjust with the current development. “For example, majors in animation, video, or retail,” the President added.

For university, the majors are still the same as couple of decades ago, for example major in economics, law, and social politics. We never have courage to add majors that are needed in this age. “We tend to do linear and monotonous routine. However, the world is rapidly changed. On the other hand, Elon Musk has introduced hyperloop system, Tesla, and SpaceX,” President Jokowi said.

Faculties in the university should adopt majors that are needed by the people, the industry, market, and the state.

The President questioned why there are no faculty of human resources management, faculty of logistics, or faculty of retail platform in the universities in Indonesia, or  there are no faculties which study packaging, e-sport, and green building.

President Jokowi asserted that considering that the world has changed, Indonesia must also change so that we do not lose in global competition. “If we could not make breakthroughs, we will be left behind in global competition,” the President added.

On that occasion, President Jokowi reminded all that we must face those changes with a new mindset and management, so we can always follow the changes.

According to the President, he always instructs the ministers to scrap the regulations that are detrimental to the Government’s action. “Change it with new regulations and policies that will make us more flexible (in making action),” the President said.

President Jokowi admitted that Minister of Education and Culture has been told about the landscapes changes in consideration that the Government will find a way to be more flexible and responsive to every global changes,“Minister of Education and Culture as well as Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education should be more responsive to global changes and other changes that the state faced,” President Jokowi concluded.

Also attending the event were Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Bali Governor Mangku Pastika, Hanura Party Chairman Oesman Sapta, Hanura Party Chief  Patron Wiranto, and other officials.

(FID/OJI/ES) (RA/MMB/YM/Naster)