The Indonesian community is rather unique. They are quite fond of big predictions. For example, there is the prediction that Indonesia will have a demographic bonus in 2030 and, the most recent one, of how to reach Indonesia’s Golden Generation in 2045.

The demographic bonus talks about how in 2030 Indonesia’s population will be dominated by the youths who belong in the working age group. In the mean time, it also has been predicted when Indonesia turns 100 years old in 2045, the country can become one of the world’s economic giants.

When reviewed closely, these predictions are related to each other. Furthermore, there is one crucial aspect to support the realization of these predictions: the importance of high quality human resources.

Unfortunately, in Indonesia development of human resources always comes as a second priority than that of physical facilities. The target of government’s success is often measured by the number of bridges or toll roads which have been built or the increase in a port’s capacity. For the education sector, the measurement of success still tends to focus on physical achievements such as number of school renovations.

Physical development is important. But we need to evaluate why Indonesia is still considered as a middle-income country although in the past 20 years there has been a great deal of physical development in the country.

In addition, one of the keys of developed countries’ success is the provision of scholarships that is continuous and accessible for all. In this case, Indonesia is on the correct trajectory. There are different scholarship programs such as the Government’s Education Funds Management Body (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan or LPDP). These scholarships bring a breath of fresh air for students with high academic achievement because they are now are able to obtain post graduate degrees, in Indonesia or abroad.

Other scholarship providers also give similar opportunities for students with opportunities to continue their education. One of the programs that stand out is Tanoto Foundation’s. Since 1981, Tanoto Foundation has supported the efforts to nurture youths from elementary schools to universities to become the golden generation of Indonesia. It is equally important that the scholarship programs that are carried out and funded by private sectors continue to be supported by the Government.

With so many scholarship programs available and the improvement of education system in Indonesia, it is hoped that the youths who are in the working age bracket would have better opportunities. The absorption of workers will also be better because prospective employees’ now have skills that match the industries’ needs. With better human resources quality, the prediction about achieving Indonesia’s Golden Generation in 2045 will not be empty words anymore.

Note: Translated from article “Mencetak Insan Indonesia Emas 2045” which was published by Harian Nasional on Monday, March 13, 2017. It was written by Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, researcher of Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF).

Jakarta, 21 March 2017 – New innovations and inventions have a critical role in the development and progress of a nation.  According to the World Bank, Indonesia had 213 researchers per one million populations in 2000 which have increased to 550 researchers per one million populations in 2015.  This increase is still not sufficient compared to other countries.  The number of researchers in Malaysia, which in 2000 was 274 per one million populations, has increased more than six fold to 1,793 per one million populations in 2014.  In order to be able to compete with the developed countries, Indonesia must increase the number of researchers, particularly those engaged in applied researches that can directly address community needs.

As a form of support for increasing the number of applied researches in Indonesia, Tanoto Foundation again held the Tanoto Student Research Award (TSRA) Program which has been running since 2007.  The program partners with five universities, namely Institut Teknologi Bandung, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Sumatera Utara, and Universitas Indonesia, to encourage their students to undertake researches, which as they are developed later on can be directly applied in the community.  Through the TSRA Program, Tanoto Foundation has given supports to more than 440 applicative researches in various fields, among others technology, health, agriculture, and environment.

“Mr. Sukanto Tanoto and Mrs. Tinah Bingei Tanoto established Tanoto Foundation to support efforts to reduce poverty in Indonesia through three pillars, namely Education, Community Empowerment and Enhancement of Quality of Life.  In the field of education, we support quality enhancement through hardware improvement, which covers facilities supporting the teaching learning process in schools and universities as well as software improvement, which covers capacities of the lecturers, students, and academic environment. ”

“In addition, the life of Mr. Sukanto and Mrs. Tinah was initially very difficult. Due to economic reasons, they did not have the chance to complete their formal education.  But they have proved that two principles, namely hard work and perseverance, can overcome challenges faced.  They always encourage young people to apply these two things in whatever they are doing in their lives, “said Sihol Aritonang, Chairman of the Tanoto Foundation Management.

“Tanoto Student Research Award is the materialization of these values. And it is also intended for promoting development of the application of knowledge in universities in order to create products that can be directly utilized by the community, “he continued.

In 2017 TSRA, we can see how students utilize technology to create innovative products that are useful for the community.  Students from UI, for example, have made drones to support the precision farming system.  There are also researches that use readily available materials to produce products that are easy to use by the public, such as for example, the research by IPB students that uses boards made from oil palm tree fronds as exterior building materials, “added Sihol Aritonang.

Meanwhile, Ujang Suwarna, Head of SubDirector of Interests, Talents, and Reasoning of Institut Pertanian Bogor said that the activities of TSRA encourage students to be more creative in transforming the science and technology that they learn in their studies into applicable products.  “With the availability of research supports such as this Tanoto Student Research Award, the students are encouraged to develop applied researches that can be directly applied, one of which is to support productivity in the industrialized world. TSRA is also making our students increasingly challenged to explore ideas that can support the sustainable utilization of natural resources, “said Ujang Suwarna.

A decade ago Elementary School No. 09 (SDN 09) in Pangkalan Kerinci was struggling. Facilities were lacking and outcomes were poor. Today it is one of the best elementary schools in the province, winning top ranking in its government assessment in 2016 and held up as a model to other educators.

Principal Sri Wahyuni moved to Riau in the 1980s from Central Java. She has helped transform the 228-pupil school into one of the most successful in the region in her almost 10 years in charge.

Under Tanoto Foundation’s Pelita Guru Mandiri program the school’s teachers receive ongoing training in education and classroom management to help make them more effective in their important roles.

The school has received extensive support from Tanoto Foundation, including improving the library. Other infrastructure includes a new water tower, healthcare facilities and the renovation of the classrooms.

The training offered to the staff by Tanoto Foundation has greatly improved the quality of the lessons and the children’s enjoyment of them, according to Bu Sri.

Supporting education is important to the founder and chairman of RGE, Sukanto Tanoto, who founded Tanoto Foundation in 1981. A new generation of leaders is growing up in Indonesia, in small part due to the hard work of everyone at Tanoto Foundation.