Industrial revolution 4.0 is marked by changes that trigger the creation of new markets, including in education sector. This demands higher learning institutions a process of learning, strategy, orientation, and governance that is ever changing and responsive to the swift changes taking place in science and technology.
“The Research, Technology and Higher Learning Ministry is developing Cyber Institute of Indonesia. In the industrial revolution 4.0, the Ministry has anticipated it with making sustainable innovation. Higher learning may participate in developing good, online module and learning process whilst quality maintenance is done by Cyber Institute of Indonesia,” said Prof. dr. Ali Ghufron Mukti, MSc, PhD, on Monday (21/5) at UGM Main Office in a monthly discussion of UGM Board of Professors.
The Director General for Resources in Science, Technology, and Higher Learning said the involvement of higher learning to develop innovation could significantly increase the Rough Participation Figure (APK) of Indonesian Higher Learning.
Under an online system, millions of students may participate in education. Learning model of higher learning, said Ghufron would affect systems, facilities, infrastructure and governance of higher learning.
Other challenges facing Indonesian higher learning are quality and relevance. He said the human resource generated by higher learning was not yet relevant with the priorities of development and industry, especially quality, competence and expertise, while human resource demand in this era is very dynamic with the new professions emerging.
“Many graduates on demand have not been generated, while many graduating students are not demanded by industry. This is a real challenge to the higher learning. Only the responsive and anticipatory universities will exist and will make contributions,” said Ghufron.
In the same event, Chairman of Health Policy and Management Department UGM, Prof. dr. Laksono Trisnantoro, M.Sc., Ph.D., said higher learning would also need to devise a strategy for professor development for a better future. He pointed out a problem in Indonesia which is a shortage in development of scientific leaders.
“We saw that currently lecturers need a supportive leadership, not just structurally, but also scientifically,” he said.
Another challenge facing higher learning is the need to break up the gap between departments and faculties for the development of integrated science that is relevant to today’s needs.