Higher Education Urged to Prepare Students for the Workforce

The government prioritises maintaining the quality of education. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students in Indonesia compete for seats in state universities (PTN). In the 2025 UTBK-SNBT selection, more than 860,000 participants took part, while capacity is only around 284,000 seats. This means less than a third of participants are accepted. Fierce competition often leads many families to view success in entering a PTN as the primary goal of higher education. However, in the reality of an ever-changing job market, education experts assess that the biggest challenge is not just failing to enter a PTN, but choosing an educational direction that does not support future careers. This situation is increasingly relevant when looking at data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), which shows that the number of unemployed people in Indonesia still reaches millions, including university graduates. This proves that having a bachelor’s degree alone does not always guarantee readiness to face the professional world. Therefore, more and more parents are starting to view higher education as a long-term investment in their children’s future. When choosing a campus, considerations are no longer just about the institution’s reputation, but also the relevance of learning to industry needs and career opportunities after graduation. Rector of Binus University Dr. Nelly, S.Kom., M.M., stated that the right higher education must be able to provide real value for students’ futures. “Higher education is essentially an investment in the future. More than just the name of the institution, what is most important is how the campus can prepare students to face the workforce, while equipping them to remain relevant amid changing times,” said Nelly, quoted from a written statement received on Thursday (26/3). She added that campuses need to build a learning ecosystem that not only focuses on academics but also provides direct experiences relevant to industry. “Students need to gain professional experience while still studying, have broad networks, and understand global dynamics. That way, the education investment made by parents can truly yield concrete results in their children’s career journey,” she added. This approach is developed by Binus University through an education ecosystem integrated with industry and global experiences. Through the 2.5 Years Study, Ready for Career programme, students can complete their studies faster and use the time to gain professional experience through various enrichment programmes such as internships, entrepreneurship, research, community development, and international experiences. Binus University also has a network of more than 170 partner universities in various countries and is supported by more than 2,200 global industry partners who collaborate in various learning programmes, curriculum development, and internship opportunities for students. With this ecosystem, students do not only learn in the classroom but also build real experiences that help them be more prepared to face the professional world from an early stage.