Indonesia is encouraging the growth of digital talent in East Nusa Tenggara. The existence of the Widya Mandira Catholic University, (Unwira) Kupang can facilitate a supportive learning ecosystem, an accommodating teaching curriculum, and adaptive and appreciative teaching staff. This facility can provide benefits in supporting Unwira’s movement in producing the best graduates who contribute to the homeland and nation. Indonesia needs to ensure inclusive and empowering growth. Strengthening the growth points of human resources and digital talent spread throughout the country, including in East Nusa Tenggara, can realise digital talent.
I checked and found that the enthusiasm to take part in the digital skills program in NTT was still lacking. Although today I heard that Unwira had taken part in it, it was still lacking. Therefore, as part of the HR development ecosystem in NTT, Unwira is expected to produce superior and outstanding graduates, promoting creativity, integrity, capacity, and competence in the digital era.
– Johnny G. Plate, Minister of Communications and Informatics
Citing the 2020 World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, the Minister detailed ten types of jobs that are currently the most in-demand. Jobs related to the digital sector, including Data Analysts and Scientists, Big Data Specialists, AI and Machine Learning Specialists. Referring to the report, the Minister encourages Unwira to adopt and adapt to the digital ecosystem. Transformative efforts certainly need to be encouraged by the readiness of digital talent as agents of change in utilising these various innovations.
Multidisciplinary interfaces with technological aspects are increasingly open, so they become options that need to be adopted and adapted. Not only for faculties and study programs that are in direct contact with ICT but open to all faculties and departments. It is also possible for scholars to hone superior technological competencies.
The Minister stated that he had prepared a program that Unwira lecturers and students could use to improve their digital skills. The Ministry uses a comprehensive approach that includes three levels. At the basic level, the development of digital literacy through the National Digital Literacy Movement (GNLD) Siberkreasi continues to be intensified so that 12.5 million Indonesians can become literate. This massive program was carried out collaboratively with 34 provincial governments and 514 district and city governments. This digital skills training is attended by tens of millions. Kominfo carried out digital literacy for 12.5 million Indonesians last year.
Furthermore, at the intermediate level, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics has a special program for millennial high school graduates and new graduates through the Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) Program. There are as many as 200,000 pieces of training. This program is free of charge by the state.
At the advanced level, the Ministry has prepared the Digital Leadership Academy Program so that it can form 300 digital master mentors. This program is intended for regional policymakers to implement smart cities, electronic government, e-commerce, and financial technology.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, Indonesia has one of the world’s highest percentages of internet users. Nonetheless, when compared to other Asian countries, it has a low internet penetration rate. In 2021, mobile internet penetration in Indonesia is expected to be 68%. Its reach is expected to increase to 79% by 2025. The penetration rate is the proportion of the total population that has internet access via a mobile broadband connection.
With increasing mobile internet penetration in the country, there has been an increase in demand for lower data prices, greater coverage, and better service quality. As a key strategy to attract more customers, Indonesian internet providers have proposed attractive data pricing plans as well as optimised data-oriented mobile services. Moreover, on the popularity of mobile internet, fixed broadband subscriptions in Indonesia have been increasing in recent years. As a result, broadband penetration rates among households in the country have increased.
