Managing Director of International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, visited UGM to attend a discussion, 2018 Youth Town Hall, themed The Future of Work, on Thursday(1/3).
In the event attended by hundreds of students, along with founder of Bukalapak online portal, Achmad Zaky, she talked about future jobs that will experience many changes.
“If we look at 20 energy companies that were big a few years ago, they almost disappear now. The current jobs may no longer exist in the next few years because the world is changing rapidly,” said Lagarde.
Technology development and changes in many areas, according to Lagarde, urged companies to adapt and make innovation. So is human resource, they are urged to have competence relevant with the change of time and adapt to the existing change.
“Artificial intelligent has caused works dynamics. So, we need to always make adaptation, not just able to speak many languages, but also using the computer,” she added.
She said this challenge needs to be given much attention by government and academics. The Indonesia’s demographic bonus should be seen as a benefit that needs to be managed well. The young generation also needs to be equipped with necessary capacities while the lecturers have the responsibility to make this come true.
Lagarde expected that higher learning would produce qualified human resource to meet existing job market or open new business that can contribute to national economic growth.
Similarly, Achmad Zaky said that in the ten years of existence of Bukalapak, he kept making innovation to stay competitive and not left behind. “As a company, we have to adapt to changes, what is suitable today may not be relevant in three month’s time,” he said.
Therefore, he encouraged the students to start developing creative ideas to get occupied in a more varied job market, not just the conventional ones. He reminded the students to focus on an area of their interest and what is needed by society.
“I would like to encourage everyone to do things that can have impacts. If you have an idea, do it. If we do something based on our passion, we won’t be stressed out, rather we feel excited because we do it from the heart,” Zaky concluded.