Collaboration on Work Readiness Programme for Islamic Higher Education Students

Pijar Foundation and the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenag RI) have signed a Cooperation Agreement to integrate the Future Talent Hub with PRIMA (Professional Readiness Through Internship and Mentorship for Academics) Magang for Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKI). The integration of these two programmes is designed to build a more complete work readiness pathway for PTKI students, ranging from learning based on industry needs, mentor assistance, assessment through projects and case studies, to structured internship experience. Through this collaboration, the learning and talent development model that has been implemented by Future Talent Hub will be aligned with the policies, academic systems, and implementation of PRIMA Magang PTKI. Thus, students not only gain access to internship opportunities but also receive relevant preparation before entering the work environment. The signing was carried out by Prof. Dr. Phil. H. Syahiron Syamsuddin, M.A., Director of Islamic Higher Education, Kemenag, and Cazadira Fediva Tamzil, Executive Director of Pijar Foundation. This cooperation signing is part of a series of visits by the Temasek Foundation to Jakarta. The activity took place in a Strategic Partners’ Meeting which was also attended by Achmad Adhitya, Special Staff to the Vice President; Ayse Melissa Hamid, General Chairperson of BPP HIPMI Womenpreneur; Shirley Tee, Director, Temasek Foundation; Alina Chia, Associate Director, Temasek Foundation; and representatives from Pijar Foundation. This Cooperation Agreement brings together the strengths of each party. Kemenag will support the alignment of the Future Talent Hub with the policies and systems of PRIMA Magang PTKI, coordinate with universities, encourage the integration of practice-based learning into the academic system, and facilitate the socialisation and mobilisation of students. Meanwhile, Pijar Foundation will bring curriculum, modules, industry-based learning platforms, project-based assessments, technical assistance, and a network of business and industry partners developed through the Future Talent Hub. With this division of roles, the Future Talent Hub and PRIMA Magang PTKI will not operate as two separate programmes. Both will be connected to form one series of learning and work experiences that help students prepare for the transition from campus to the professional world. In his statement today, Prof Syahiron Syamsuddin expressed that higher education needs to balance academic mastery with the skills required by the world of work. “It is not enough for students to merely master theory; they also need skills relevant to industry needs, including digital capabilities. Cooperation with the Pijar Foundation is an important breakthrough to expand internship opportunities for PTKI students so that they gain additional skills and are better prepared to enter the workforce after graduation,” said Prof. Syahiron. The Future Talent Hub is a talent development programme initiated by Pijar Foundation with the Temasek Foundation. This programme is designed to help students gain learning experiences closer to industry needs through practical learning, mentorship, real-case-based projects, career development, and internship opportunities. In the 2024–2026 period, the Future Talent Hub targets up to 1,000 students from the religious higher education ecosystem, 11 Nahdlatul Ulama University (UNU) campuses under LPTNU, the Rabithah Ma’ahid Islamiyah (RMI-NU) network, Ma’had Aly, and various higher education institutions that are part of the Nahdlatul Ulama ecosystem. This programme reaches students from various regions, including those who have had little access to industry networks and digital career opportunities. Students can take the Digital Marketing or Product Management learning path. Besides technical skills, participants learn professional communication, collaboration, project management, personal branding, presentation, and preparation for entering the workforce. Cazadira Fediva Tamzil, Executive Director of Pijar Foundation, said this integration is an important step to expand the Future Talent Hub model through the religious higher education ecosystem. “The Future Talent Hub was built on the simple belief that every young Indonesian, wherever they come from, should have equal access to opportunities in the digital economy. Higher education needs to be complemented with practical learning that suits industry needs, mentoring, and meaningful internship opportunities, so that students can start building their careers even before they graduate,” said Cazadira. “Through integration with PRIMA Magang PTKI, we want to ensure that students not only get an internship placement but also have the skills, project experience, and readiness needed to make good use of those opportunities,” she continued. This agreement strengthens the Future Talent Hub and PRIMA Magang PTKI as a single talent development pathway connecting the government, universities, curriculum, and industry. The collaboration is also expected to help universities adjust the learning process to developments in the world of work without abandoning the academic strength and character of religious higher education. In the future, this integration model is expected to reach more PTKI students in various regions and open up wider engagement opportunities for universities, industry associations, companies, mentors, and internship providers.