Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology urges youth to change mindset to enhance competitiveness
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek) Fauzan has urged all students to possess a global mindset so that Indonesian graduates can compete in the international job market.
During the Career Development Centre (CDC) Strengthening event in Jakarta on Wednesday, Fauzan highlighted the fact that high-tech jobs in various parts of the world, even in Indonesia itself, are often dominated by workers from other countries such as India.
According to Fauzan, this occurs because workers from competing countries generally have an expansive spirit and high self-confidence to pursue careers beyond national borders. On the other hand, Indonesian society is seen as still having cultural barriers that view the departure of family members from their home areas as disrupting family stability.
“We should not just be spectators in the era of globalisation, but we must be actors,” he emphasised.
Therefore, Fauzan encouraged universities to take a broader role, not just graduating students, but also facilitating their career development to an international level.
“This is not easy, because it indeed requires a way of thinking or a global mindset,” Fauzan added.
As an example of success, he explained the Indonesia-Japan nursing programme that he pioneered while serving as rector at Muhammadiyah University of Malang, which successfully equipped students with foreign languages from the early semesters and sent hundreds of graduates abroad.
Currently, the government is promoting a study programme with overseas job placements that could become an innovative and strategic solution for students affected by natural disasters in various regions such as Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
The affected students are provided with intensive language training, an online learning system, and subsequently facilitated to go work in Japan.
“First, they will not stop studying, and second, they can become the backbone of the family because they are working,” said Fauzan.