IO – The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 will effect changes in many aspects of life, because of the increasing use of digital technology, artifcial intelligence and seamless connectivity.
Indonesia needs to thoroughly prepare its human resources to adapt to technological hegemony and digitalization in this era.
The Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said that educational institutions must prepare human resources ready to face Industry 4.0.
“There are at least two approaches needed in education management to prepare our human resources: the Manpower Approach and the Social Demand Approach,” the Minister said at a public lecture at Mataram University, West Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (12/4/2021).
Muhadjir explained that the manpower approach prioritizes the linkage of education with demands for human resources in various sectors, such as the economic, agricultural, trade and industrial sectors. “This is the main approach to prepare human resources who can join the world of employment in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of the social demand approach. He said this approach emphasizes particularistic education, according to regional or individual needs.
Education in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara, for example, has a religious characteristic. Many students have the ability to recite the Koran fluently.
The social demand approach is also related to specific subjects, such as art, aesthetics and other skills.
Muhadjir said that the two approaches to educational planning must be balanced to build Indonesian human resources ready to face Industry 4.0.
“We can’t expect people to enter the world of employment without sufficiently providing them with the basics. Not as human capital and industrial tools. But we must build them as individuals,” he said. (eka)