UI Rector, Ari Kuncoro: The Role of the Pre-Employment Card Program and Higher Education in Human Resource Development during the Pandemic
Nino Eka Putra ~ PR of FEB UI
DEPOK – (3/11/2020) Professor Ari Kuncoro, Rector of Universitas Indonesia, said that the number of unemployed increased to around 10 million duringĀ the Covid-19 pandemic or 8% – 9% of the total workforce in Indonesia today. Most of the unemployed are young/productive and come from secondary cities. The majority of the unemployed were dominated by young people who were relatively educated, had never worked nor attended training.
To overcome these problems, the government made a breakthrough with a new policy in the form of the Pre-Employment Card Program. The pre-employment card is an out of the box policy, because it tries to combine elements of stimulus (in the form of transfers to accounts) with the ability to increase the production capacity of the economy (in the form of job training). For example, in the United States, there is a transfer payment for someone while they are still unemployed, in the form of benefits with a certain time limit, until they get a job. In Indonesia, people who are still unemployed are given incentives and training, with the aim of preparing superior human resources.
“With the Pre-Employment Card, the competence of new job seekers, job seekers who change professions, or those suffer from layoffs are expected to be improved during the pandemic or post-Covid-19 period. Of course, it can create new breakthroughs in the medium and long term,” said Ari Kuncoro in a webinar talk show, entitled “The Role of the Pre-Work Card Program in Human Resources Development during the Pandemic,” Tuesday (3/11/2020). This webinar is part of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Implementing Management of the Pre-Employment Card Program and IPB.
Ari continued, this opens new opportunities and challenges, if we try to redefine the economy after Covid-19. Intentionally, we have been aware of the incessant US-China trade competition, changes in supply chains, etc. It is time for Indonesia to rely on domestic purchasing power. For this reason, this Pre-Employment Card can realistically prepare youth to be ready to compete in the world of work, because the Pre-Employment Card not only provides incentives but also training.
On the other hand, challenges arise forĀ the higher education curriculum, which must be changed according to the times in order to prepare superior human resources. So far, our education system seems to apply a one direction policy. That is, it requires someone to reflect on a book or memorize, while creativity and teamwork are less emphasized. “Therefore, universities must innovate, by providing adaptations for the world of work for students, such as training skills, analyzing data, writing widely, arguing well, and seeing future opportunities. These are in accordance with the demands of skills in the age of digital transformation, which consist of higher order thinking and complex problem solving, social skills, critical thinking, cognitive abilities (flexibility, creativity, logical reasoning), adaptability, and 4 literacy (basic, data, technology, and people),” Ari said in closing the session. (hjtp)
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