Deputy Minister of Communication and Information Technology Nezar Patria imparted wisdom to UGM postgraduate candidates for the academic year 2023/2024 on Tuesday (Jan. 13).
During the session, he underscored the urgency of digital literacy and skills essential for students and prospective professionals navigating the digital era. Basic digital competencies are imperative for the current generation to excel in the fiercely competitive job market.
“These digital skills are indispensable proficiencies that every individual must possess,” he asserted.
Referring to data from ADB & LinkedIn, 2022, he highlighted that most companies have recruited candidates with fundamental digital skills over the past year. Furthermore, contemporary job roles increasingly demand advanced digital skills from recruits.
“Digital skills are also ranked among the top 8 out of 10 hard skills required in 2023,” he remarked.
Moreover, he shed light on the strong development of digital trends, heralding transformative shifts in future employment landscapes. Projections suggest that approximately 83 million jobs may be displaced over the next five years.
However, conversely, the wave of digitalization is poised to unleash many fresh employment opportunities, with an estimated creation of 69 million new jobs.
Addressing the disruptions spurred by digital technology, Patria outlined the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology’s initiatives in nurturing digital human resources. One such endeavor encompasses comprehensive digital skills training programs tailored to basic, intermediate, and advanced proficiency levels.
“The ministry offers extensive support for young people who aspire to thrive in the digital world,” he expounded.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology spearheads three digital human resources development initiatives.
Firstly, the national digital literacy movement is geared towards fortifying fundamental digital skills or digital literacy to harness the positive and productive potential of the digital space.
Secondly, the digital talent scholarship program provides specialized training in cyber security, AI, cloud computing, big data analytics, and digital marketing to elevate intermediate digital skills.
Lastly, the digital leadership academy extends digital skills training catering to C-level executives, leaders, and policymakers across private and public sectors.
“For formal programs, the ministry extends scholarships for master’s degrees, domestically and internationally, to address Indonesia’s digital human resources requisites,” he clarified.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Donnie