An announcement by the Universitas
Gadjah Mada (UGM) encouraged higher education to develop online learning in
response to Indonesia’s fourth industrial revolution in manufacturing and
industry, or Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 is a term that refers to the fourth
industrial revolution in manufacturing and industry. It encompasses major
innovations in the digital technology, biology and hardware automations. It
also implies that cyber-physical systems can make their own basic decisions.
Hence, it is becoming increasingly self-ruling.
Industry 4.0 is supported by five key
technological advances: Internet of things, artificial intelligence,
human-machine interface, robot and sensor technology, and 3D printing.
The world is now experiencing Industry 4.0 and
therefore Indonesia needs to be well prepared to join the new trend. Industry
4.0 is expected to result in very rapid and wide transformations. As such,
countries, including Indonesia, need to be ready.
Industry 4.0 is triggers the transformation of new
markets, which includes the education sector. This will lead to more jobs and because
of this, higher learning institutions are tasked to produce the quality of
education that can respond to the constant changes happening in science and
technology. This includes improving on their learning process, strategy,
orientation and governance.
“The Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education is developing the Cyber Institute of
Indonesia. The Ministry has anticipated that the Industry 4.0 will be creating
sustainable innovation. Higher learning should participate in this innovation
by developing a good online module and learning process which will be in
accordance with the quality standards set by Cyber Institute of Indonesia,”
said Prof Dr Ali Ghufron Mukti, MSc, PhD, on 21 May 2018, at the UGM Main
Office during the monthly discussion of the UGM Board of Professors.
The Director General for the Ministry of Research,
Technology, and Higher Learning said that the involvement of the higher
learning in developing innovation could significantly increase the Rough
Participation Figure (APK) for Indonesian Higher Learning.
With the use of an online system, millions of students
can be educated, which can correspond to manpower needs brought about by new
jobs.
Challenges are being faced by the Indonesian higher
learning. One such issue is the quality and relevance of graduates produced.
The backgrounds of the graduates that have been produced are not in line with
the priorities and the development in the industry. New professions are
emerging, based on the dynamic needs that rise from current developments, but
the institutions cannot produce human resource having the quality, competence
and expertise needed for the jobs.
“Many jobs
demand graduates that have not been produced, while many graduating students
are not demanded by the industry. This is a real challenge for the higher
learning. Only universities, which are responsive and have anticipated these
needs, can make contributions,” said Dr Ghufron.
UGM Chairman of Health Policy and Management
Department, Prof Dr Laksono Trisnantoro, M.Sc., Ph.D., added during the same
event, that higher learning would also need to devise a strategy for the
development of professors for a better future. He pointed out that the problem
in Indonesia is that the development of scientific leaders is lacking.
“We saw that, currently, lecturers need a supportive
leader, not just in structure, but also scientifically,” he said.