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  • Unlocking Potential: Medical Research, Education, and Philanthropy

    Unlocking Potential: Medical Research, Education, and Philanthropy

    One of the biggest lessons we have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of health. However, many are still neglecting the importance of medical research in Asia, which is critical to improving the health standards in the region.

    In the latest episode of the Unlocking Potential podcast, hosted by Global Tanoto Foundation CEO Dr J Satrijo Tanudjojo, we spoke to Professor Chong Yap Seng, the Dean of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on the topics of medical research, education, and philanthropy.

    Medical research is critical to studying our local situation

    According to Yap Seng, it’s essential that medical research be conducted in the region, rather than relying solely on studies carried out in other parts of the world.

    “Most of the research that has been done in medicines and healthcare was done in the West, and when I say the West, I mean the US, Europe, and Australia,” he said.

    “The populations, the culture, and even the food are very different from what we have in Asia. It is important to conduct medical research exclusively in Asia, to know how our diets, environment, and cultures affect the health and disease patterns in the region, then come up with solutions that fit the local situation,” he elaborated.

    Attracting quality talent for a better public health service

    Tanoto Foundation actively supports medical research to better understand Asian prevalent diseases, but another challenge is finding the right talent.

    Yap Seng said that it is essential to set a proper benchmark. “When we look for quality talents, we need to compare ourselves with the best countries in the world. It is not enough to look at what’s best in Singapore or Asia. If we’re willing to be frankly honest, that is not enough,” Yap Seng said.

    However, he said that Singapore must be aware of the potential to create a brain drain problems in neighboring countries. “We should bring them over here for training, and we should do our best to send them back so that they can contribute to their own countries.

    “Another thing that we should learn from the Covid-19 pandemic is that no one is safe until everyone is safe. If we, as Singaporeans, are healthy and safe in our country but our surrounding countries are not in the same state, the problems will come to us,” Yap Seng explained.

    Furthermore, Yap Seng and Satrijo also discuss the possibilities for philanthropy organizations like Tanoto Foundation to fill gaps in medical research and other areas like public health education.

    Ko Zin Thet

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  • President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation Unveil Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians Sculpture at Gardens by the Bay

    President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation Unveil Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians Sculpture at Gardens by the Bay

    Singapore, 2 April 2022 – President Halimah Yacob and Member of the Board of Trustees at Tanoto Foundation Anderson Tanoto today unveiled American artist Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians sculpture at Gardens by the Bay’s (the Gardens) Cloud Forest. The unveiling took place in the presence of Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee.

    Independent philanthropic organisation Tanoto Foundation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto commissioned the internationally-renowned blown-glass art piece to commemorate the Gardens’ 10th anniversary. The spectacular Ethereal White Persians will be a permanent installation, suspended over the water, atop the Cloud Forest Mountain.

    President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation’s Anderson Tanoto at the unveiling of the sculpture in Cloud Forest.

    A blown-glass masterpiece, each element of Ethereal White Persians is unique and bears its own signature due to Dale Chihuly’s production technique of utilising gravity and centrifugal force to let molten glass find its shape in its own organic way.

    Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, said, “We are honoured to have President Halimah Yacob and Minister Desmond Lee with us to unveil the new sculpture. Tanoto Foundation’s work has been driven by our mission to provide equal opportunities to the community, mainly through education, medical research, and youth leadership. Similarly, we believe access to internationally-renowned art, such as Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians, should be for all in Singapore to enjoy. We are thankful to be collaborating with a like-minded partner, Gardens by the Bay, which shares similar values in terms of availing accessibility and fulfilling our roles as social-levelers in Singapore.”

    The decision to make Ethereal White Persians a permanent feature was influenced by the overwhelming response to Chihuly’s Glass in Bloom exhibition, which was held in Singapore last year at the Gardens. With this permanent art sculpture at the Cloud Forest, Singaporeans can now experience one of Dale Chihuly’s most famous art pieces anytime.

    Anderson added, “At nine feet tall and an assembly of 97 individual glass pieces, the Ethereal White Persians by Dale Chihuly is awe-inspiring. It is also a vision of hope, a testament to human resilience and perseverance. He has stayed true to his pursuit of pushing something as fragile as glass to new forms, creating ambitious and stunning installations in prominent landmarks across the globe. The Persian series is a culmination of a year’s experimentation by Dale Chihuly – it signifies perseverance, the pursuit of excellence, and reflects the positive spirit of constantly pushing boundaries to open new horizons. We hope this art piece can inspire many Singaporeans.”

    Leslie Chihuly, President & CEO, Chihuly Studio, said, “Last year, we had the incredible opportunity of mounting Dale’s first major garden exhibition in Asia, at Gardens by the Bay. We are honoured that this installation will remain in the Gardens for all to enjoy, and we are grateful to the Tanoto Foundation for making this possible.”

    Ko Zin Thet

  • Gen Z: Challenges and Opportunities for Indonesia

    Gen Z: Challenges and Opportunities for Indonesia

    Gen Z is the largest demographic group in Indonesia – and also one of the most misunderstood. 

    Born between 1997 and 2012 they are digital natives and are extremely talented in some areas, but also lack many of the skills that employers need. At 27.94 per cent of Indonesia’s population, integrating these young people into the workforce is vital for the country’s future success.

    According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, there are five characteristics of Gen Z that set them apart from their predecessors.

    The first is having a global mindset – social media makes it easier to connect with people around the world and exchange information and opinions.

    Related to this is the second point: open mindedness. Exposure to people from around the world means they are more likely to accept that different people have different opinions.

    Third, they are tech savvy. They are the first generation to grow up with social media and using technology is generally second nature to them.

    The flip side of this brings us onto our fourth characteristic – they have enjoyed fewer physical interactions than previous generations since much of their communication takes place online, so they can sometimes need help learning interpersonal skills.

    Their open mindedness can sometimes pose a challenge, which is the fifth and final characteristic. When challenges arise and the pressure is on, Gen Z can sometimes find it hard to define exactly who they are and what they stand for.

    All this presents some clear opportunities for knowledge transfer from older generations to help Gen Z – and the country – thrive.

    Challenges Gen Z Face 

    According to the report ‘Gen Z in Transition: Between the Two Worlds’, presented at Kuliah-Kerja Fest!, a webinar organised by Tanoto Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, there are clear challenges faced by Gen Z.

    Even among graduates with backgrounds in economics, engineering, and IT, there is a lack of knowledge and practical skills in automation, data processing, and numerical analysis to handle actual business challenges in the industrial sector. 

    The use of artificial intelligence and big data in the technology, finance, and manufacturing sectors in Indonesia still trails behind other developing countries. Understanding data-driven decision making is key, but somewhat lacking among Gen Z students.

    Preparing Gen Z for Workplace 

    Increasing digital skills and literacy should be the main focus for industry, government, and educational institutions. 

    According to a 2016 World Bank report, Indonesia has been experiencing a shortage of 9 million semi-skilled and skilled workers for 15 years. To make up for the shortage, Indonesia has to produce approximately 600,000 digital talents every year.

    If the Indonesian Gen Z cannot fill the position, these jobs will be given to skilled foreign labour. This is also reflected in research by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, which show that 85% of job requirements involve digital skills.

    The private sector can play a role in eliminating the skill gap too by providing training and policies that support personal and career development.

    Employers can also encourage Gen Z to voice their ideas and opinions. This helps build communication skills and can also have a positive impact on the business as it can provide a new perspective.

    Preparing Gen Z for the workplace requires collaboration among the private sector, government, and academics. It can start with discussion forums, career development centres, and career guidance such as internships and research.

    Find out more about Gen Z here: Kuliah Kerja Fest! 2021 Report

    Ko Zin Thet

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