Students and New Jobs

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Participants take the Computer-Based Written Examination-Joint Selection for State University Entrance (UTBK-SBMPTN) at the Veterans National Development University (UPN) Jakarta in Depok, West Java, Monday (26/4/2021).

Over the past week, Kompas has published a number of reports related to student admission and the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister\'s affirmation regarding the Kampus Merdeka (Independent Campus) program.

We are interested in providing notes about the interest of prospective students in the fields of study, while there is a gap between interest and new fields that are now growing in the working world.

As reported, from the results of the Joint Entrance Test for State Universities (SBMPTN), the popular study programs have not changed much (Kompas, 15/6/2021). The study programs that prospective students are interested in are still related to law, management, psychology, communication, accounting and international relations. For science and technology, the most popular are chemical technology, medicine, electrical engineering, and actuary. From the Higher Education Statistics, the tendency of choice is still on social humanities compared to science and technology.

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Career map expert Ina Liem concluded that the choice of study programs for Indonesian students were still conventional, still looking for a sense of security. The chosen department is related with a greater chance of becoming civil servants, which are considered safe.

On the other hand, this is considered contrary to development in the world of work. At a time when the economy is shifting toward innovation, as well as due to the ongoing digital disruption, many types of old jobs are receding, and new jobs are emerging. Not to mention the disruption due to the pandemic, which also leads to a change on the employment map.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Sophia, a robot supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology that was activated in 2016 and created by the Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics, takes part in a special interview with the media at the 2019 Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Dialogue in Jakarta on Monday (16/9/2019). Sophia represents AI technology of the future, when humans and robots can work together in various fields. The robot, which can make dozens of human facial expressions, is expected to be smart enough to help humans in the fields of medicine, education and scientific research. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the use of robots in 2020 is estimated to reach 3 million units or a threefold increase over the last 10 years.

Digital disruption, which will one day be strengthened by the arrival of the Industry 4.0 era, which brings the latest technology, clearly demands the availability of qualified human resources, such as in the fields of artificial intelligence, the internet and robotics. Today, the digital disruption that has just occurred has opened up various new jobs, such as data experts. The job map is shifting. Information technology experts who were previously only supporters, are now in the center of the stage, as pillars of the company, in line with the development of the mushrooming of start-up companies.

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Indeed we still need doctors, management experts and communication experts, considering that there are still an insufficient number for a nation as big as Indonesia. However, the emergence of the new development should not be underestimated. To bring the insights of students (and universities) closer to the development in the industrial world, the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister (Mendikbud-Ristek) Nadiem Makarim introduced the Merdeka Campus program. This program is intended to provide opportunities for students to have challenging experiences and ge.t out of their comfort zone, to be involved in social humanitarian projects, be professional up to the villages, to challenge character, integrity, and social spirit (Kompas, 17/6/2021)

Apparently, the challenge for prospective students is not only in the chosen department but also in their response to what is developing in the industrial world. Higher education managers are also expected to be able to attract prospective students to enter new fields of study, and to facilitate them with the latest education methods.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.