Founders of Tanoto Foundation, Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto attended the BizInsight@HKUST Luncheon Forum on 13 September 2017. During the dinner, Sukanto shared about his entrepreneurial journey for the past 50 years.

Over 160 business leaders, professionals working for family businesses and guests from the HKUST community also gathered to honor the renewed donation from the Tanoto Foundation to the HKUST’s Tanoto Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies.

Reposted from official press release onwww.ust.hk:

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology School of Business and Management (HKUST Business School) hosted a BizInsight@HKUST Luncheon Forum on 13 September 2017. The forum featured scholars in the field of family business studies and a dynamic group of next generation leaders to discuss the future of Chinese family businesses.

“HKUST is a leader in global business education dedicated to grooming the next generation of leaders and enhancing its understanding of issues with significant impact on the world’s economy,” said Prof Tony F Chan, President of HKUST. “The generous and continued support from Tanoto Foundation has provided a strong impetus for our researchers to develop relevant studies and content-rich cases which contribute to Asian family businesses and entrepreneurship.”

“We strongly believe in education and the value of quality research,” said Mr Sukanto Tanoto, Founder of Tanoto Foundation and Chairman of RGE Group. “2017 marks the 50th year of my entrepreneurial journey. It is my sincere wish that the Center will continue to do good work and help more family businesses in Asia build, protect, and preserve wealth, legacy and harmony over many generations.”

Led by its Founding Director Prof Roger King, the Tanoto Center aspires to become a leading research center in the understanding of the burgeoning Asian family business and entrepreneurship field, and bridge the knowledge gap among academics, practitioners and policymakers.

“It is our strong belief that learning from real-life cases shared by families is one of the most effective ways to understand the issues and complexities of family businesses,” said Prof King. He presented the trends and directions of the future of Chinese family businesses, discussing the significance of Chinese family businesses as a major contributor to the world economy, and how some divest from traditional industries to grow new ventures.

His talk was followed by an interactive panel discussion with Mr Richie Eu, Managing Director of Eu Yan Sang Trading (Hong Kong) Limited; Ms Nisa Leung, Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners; and Mr Kevin Wong, CEO of Origami Labs and General Manager of Kowloon Watch Company, moderated by Prof Winnie Peng, Associate Director of the Tanoto Center. Representing the young generation in the family, the three panel speakers shared their entrepreneurial experiences within or outside of their family businesses, and their perspectives about the future.

This article was published on www.ust.hk

Pulau Padang, 12 September 2017 – According to the 2016/2017 Education Summary published by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia in 2017, number of classrooms for Primary Education level reaches 1,049,116.  Unfortunately, out of this number, only 270,028 or 25.7% of those classrooms are in good condition while the rest is in disrepair in the following conditions:  601,393 (57.3%) lightly damaged, 69,551 (6.6%) moderately damaged, 58,269 (5.6%) heavily damaged, and 49,875 (4.8%) totally damaged.

Adequate classroom is one of the requirements for the creation of a comfortable and enjoyable learning environment. Supported by other facilities as well as competent teachers, the quality of teaching learning process can be enhanced. Thus, it has an impact on improving the quality of education in Indonesia.

To support improvement of the quality of education, Tanoto Foundation runs a program called Improving the Quality of Education, or Pelita Pendidikan (Peningkatan Kualitas Pendidikan). This program consists of four components, namely Pelita Guru Mandiri, which aims at improving the competence and capacity of teachers in schools; Pelita Pustaka, which is a program for enhancing the reading interest of children; Pelita ASRI, which aims at helping schools to be safe, healthy, clean and environmentally friendly; as well as Program Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini/PAUD (Early Childhood Education Program), which aims at improving the quality of early childhood education.

“The founders of Tanoto Foundation, Mr. Sukanto Tanoto and Mrs. Tinah Bingei Tanoto, believe that private philanthropy can take part in national efforts to improve the quality of education. This is in line with the 4^th Goal of Sustainable Development which is Quality Education, “said Margaretha Ari Widowati, Deputy Chairman of the Tanoto Foundation Program, in the handover ceremony of school improvement aid from Tanoto Foundation to the Government of Kabupaten Kepulauan Meranti, in Pulau Padang, Riau, Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

“As the realization of support from Tanoto Foundation in the effort to provide quality education, we run various activities under Pelita Pendidikan program, such as trainings for teachers for improving their capacity and competence as well as support for improvements of physical facilities, such as renovations of school buildings, classroom repairs, as well as renovations and provisions of toilets and clean water facilities. In their implementation, these Pelita Pendidikan programs collaborate with the local government Education Office and Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD), “added Margaretha Ari Widowati.

Assistance for the repair of school physical facilities in Pulau Padang is part of the Pelita ASRI program run in Tanoto Foundation’s partner schools. In this handover ceremony, there are four schools that have received support for improvement, namely SDS Mekar Delima, Desa Mekar Delima, Kecamatan Tasik Putri Puyu, which has received support for classroom repairs, SDN 018 Putri Puyu; SDN 010 Putri Puyu and SDN 015 Tanjung Padang, which have received assistance for the construction and renovation of toilets as well as clean water facilities. This support is a result of the cooperation of Tanoto Foundation with one of its corporate partners, namely PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper.

In addition to the education facility improvement program, Tanoto Foundation also runs other programs in Pulau Padang, including teacher training for enhancing the teachers’ competence and capacity, teacher training in managing small libraries in schools, managerial training for principals, training on healthy school, and donation of books for school library collections.

Overall, Pelita Pendidikan program has partnered with 518 schools in Riau, Jambi, North Sumatra, and DKI Jakarta Provinces. The impact of this program has been felt by more than 5,100 teachers and 43,000 students.

There was a special moment at Tanoto Foundation’s office on July 15, 2017.  Around 100 people gathered at the Tanoto Foundation office on that Saturday.  They are graduates of Tanoto Scholars who are now working and have careers in various big companies in Indonesia.

The 2017 Tanoto Scholar Alumni Gathering showcases the close ties between Tanoto Foundation and its scholarship recipients, even though their status is not that of students anymore.

“I am very pleased to see Tanoto Scholars have a sense of belonging to the value upheld by the Tanoto Foundation. The spirit of “pay it forward” of these friends is still high.  Let’s keep the spirit of sharing.  For those who have money to give money, those who have time to give time, and those who have knowledge to give knowledge.  Because, we are not the only ones living in this world, “said Belinda Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees of Tanoto Foundation.

In addition to being a event to satisfy our longing to be together, this event was also filled with materials about self-development. Speakers who filled this event were Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, President Director of Antara News Agency; Rudi Fajar, President Director of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper; and Fonny Lomanorek, Head of Human Resources of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE).

The three speakers highlighted the theme of career development.  Meidyatama shared his experience about integrity, hard work, and determination to work for Indonesia, which led to him achieving his current position. Rudi Fajar added that in addition to hard work, people must also stick strongly to quality values in their works.  Meanwhile, Fonny Lomanorek explained the opportunities and career paths in RGE Group.

“My impression of this event is very good, because it can build a close relationship. Hopefully this event can be held regularly, and if possible not only held in Jakarta.  Today we got a lot of inspirations from the speakers.  It would not be a bad idea if in the next event there will be alumni who will share inspirations, “said Caroline Herawati Manik, alumni of Tanoto Scholar  from Gadjah Mada University, who now works as Expert Staff at the Presidential Advisory Council.

“This event is very good and, in the future hopefully relationship of Tanoto Scholars alumni will become more solid.  Hopefully in the future there will be events initiated by the alumni as well, “said Jaja Netra Puspita, alumni of Tanoto Scholars from Universitas Indonesia, who now works as a Business Improvement Specialist at a national insurance company.

Not only have they gathered and met in a reunion, the alumni have also created a new platform, namely a Facebook Group, as a medium of communication between alumni.  As a first step, the alumni have also created a real program of book collection to be donated to Tanoto Foundation’s partner schools in rural areas.

On the number of books collected, Tanoto Foundation doubled it. “Tanoto Scholars Alumni Gathering is a continuous realization of Tanoto Foundation’s commitment to participate in the development of future leaders of Indonesia.  The alumni who attended are Indonesian leaders and candidate leaders, “said Tanoto Foundation Chairman, Sihol Aritonang.

According to Tanoto Foundation alumni data, 67% of alumni work in multinational companies, state-owned enterprises, and national private companies.  Meanwhile, 16% work as lecturers and continue with S2 studies and 50% occupy the positions of managers in the companies where they work.