Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia still faces the issue of college graduates struggling to find employment. Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemenristekdikti), Stella Christie emphasized the need for systematic research into the challenges. She stated that her ministry is prepared to facilitate young people to be ready for the world of work.
Responding to these challenges, Deputy Minister Stella Christie emphasized the importance of analyzing the root causes of the issue.
“First, we need to ask if the bottleneck is due to information flow: we have job seekers and employers, but they’re not aware of each other, so the matchmaking isn’t efficient. If that’s the case, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is ready to improve the information flow,” Stella said in an interview on CNN Indonesia’s YouTube channel, as reported by Detik on Friday 25 oktober.
Addressing the Skills Gap
Stella Christie noted that the employment challenge should also be examined from the perspective of a skills gap between what industries need and what universities teach. She emphasized that integrating science and technology advancements into university curricula is essential for closing this gap.
“That’s why bringing science and technology directly into our universities is crucial. Higher education should foster innovation, so we don’t fall behind,” she explained.
Without an innovation-driven approach in universities, she warned, the risk of lagging behind industry developments increases, leading to a widening gap between workplace requirements and academic training.
Based on her findings, Indonesian youth exhibit strong enthusiasm but lack adequate information on science and technology, a gap the ministry aims to bridge to empower young people. “This is a major task that requires collective effort and collaboration,” she added.
Inspiring Young Learners
Deputy Minister Stella Christie plans to develop programs to inspire and encourage young people to pursue education. For example, she cited a UNICEF podcast that profiles her career to inspire young girls to consider careers in science. She hopes to replicate similar initiatives within the ministry.
“We want to spotlight Indonesia’s outstanding scientists and showcase them to the public, providing role models and building awareness of the excitement in science and technology. Our young people are eager to learn, not just consume media,” she said.
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Stella confirmed that, in collaboration with Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Prof. Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, the ministry will systematically map current challenges and areas that need improvement. Enhancing human resources is a priority, particularly by improving the quality of higher education and aligning it with developments in science and technology.
“This is the agenda we aim to advance within the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology,” she concluded.
With these initiatives, Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry and fostering innovation and providing clear pathways for youth to pursue careers in science and technology.
(Raidi/Agung)
