Indonesia Spotlight: Training for Tomorrow

Article summary

For businesses looking to tap into Indonesia’s growing market, Surabaya City located in the East Java province of Indonesia, presents a promising gateway.

Perfectit visited Surabaya recently to take part in a training workshop where we gave a talk on Communication. Whilst there we were invited to present to 1st year students on the topic of Critical Thinking – what we found was a robust appetite for learning and a desire to develop international business acumen among the participants. 

Buoyed by Indonesia's youthful demographic and potential, Perfectit certainly believes Indonesia’s ambitious economic goals are within grasp, but we must emphasise the ongoing and urgent need for significant investment in skills development, which we see throughout Europe and Asia.

Education is the key to unlock Indonesia's economic aspirations

8% GDP growth within 5 years is the ambitious target Indonesia’s new President, Prabowo Subianto has vowed can be achieved, reports The Financial Times. This will build on the circa 5% year-on-year growth which Indonesia is already achieving today. It is a big ask for any nation, though at Perfectit we believe this is an entirely achievable goal given Indonesia’s youthful population and productive potential. 

A massive increase in skills development is needed to match growing demand from industry

To achieve this impressive feat, it is clear to us that a massive increase in skills development will be needed to match this growing demand from industry. This was one of the reasons we were excited to have the good fortune of being invited to Surabaya, the capital city of East Java and Indonesia’s 2nd largest city, as part of a training delegation. An opportunity we did not want to miss.

During this trip we had the chance to share some insights into areas of expertise we consider critical at a Family Governance workshop, and that is the topic of Communication. We also took up the offer for a guest spot to deliver a lecture at Instiut Asia on Critical Thinking (more on Instituit Asia below), and how it can be applied across a timeline of past (Agile Retrospective), present (a 3-Amigo's session) and future (Risk Analysis).

It was particularly interesting to engage with the 1st year students on their thoughts about the coming wave of Artificial Intelligence, and how that has and will continue to impact the choices they make today. This topic will have broad impact on business and people, and we intend to do a lot more on this. 

The lively discussions during these engagements highlight that these were all relevant and well-received topics. Special mention is owed to Rector Risa Santoso, her staff and all the pupils (the coconut coffee at the student coffee shop was delicious!), for their hospitality and willingness to openly share their views in this space. It was a stimulating exchange that adds energy and momentum to our plans for the future.

Throughout this venture, and the countless other conversations that arise during engagements like this, we are finding common themes. Wherever we go, we meet many people who are hungry to learn more. Not only do they want to know about other cultures, but often also they share a desire to better understand how they can successfully adapt to the nuances of doing business internationally across different markets.

As ever, we were delighted to be treated to the typically inviting Asian hospitality – in an environment that is clearly fostering a bright future for its population. Together with the amazing warmth from our hosts and the vibrance of both colours and cuisine, it was a unique experience that only Indonesia can offer!

If Indonesia is a country that your business is considering as an opportunity worth exploring, then we highly recommend you add Surabaya to your plans, and take the time to get to know the City and all it has to offer.

Terima kasih Surabaya, we’ll be back!

If you are interested in learning more about the work we do and how we can help you connect with the next generation of talent, then please get in touch and we’d be happy to help.

Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Asia (Institut Asia) is a higher education campus providing undergraduate and postgraduate courses, particularly in the fields of technology and business. Located in Malang, Indonesia, Institut Asia is a place where technology meets business, theory meets practice, and students meet their future. This institution is dedicated to nurturing future leaders through their innovative classroom approach and forward-thinking curriculum. Find more about Instiut Asia at https://asia.ac.id.