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  • Indonesian Philanthropy Association and Tanoto Foundation Launch “Collaboration for the Nation” Book to Drive Transformation in Indonesia’s Education Ecosystem

    Indonesian Philanthropy Association and Tanoto Foundation Launch “Collaboration for the Nation” Book to Drive Transformation in Indonesia’s Education Ecosystem

    Singapore, 26 July 2024 – The Indonesian Philanthropy Association (PFI), together with Tanoto Foundation and the Education Philanthropy Cluster, hosted the launch of the book “Collaboration for the Nation: Philanthropy’s Contribution to Accelerating Indonesia’s Education Agenda” during the 15th Philanthropy Thought Leaders (PTL) event. The launch took place at Trisno Soemardjo Hall, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, on 19 July 2024.

    This event aimed to highlight the contributions and best practices of philanthropy in supporting the national education agenda to a broader audience of stakeholders. It marked the culmination of the Education Philanthropy Cluster’s campaign, #PhilanthropyforEducation, which seeks to inspire and engage stakeholders and the public in building a Golden Generation through quality education.

    In his keynote speech at the 15th PTL event, Dr. Iwan Syahril, Ph.D., Director General of Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (MoECRT), expressed immense appreciation for the book. Initiated by the Indonesian Philanthropy Association, Tanoto Foundation and the Education Philanthropy Cluster, the book embodies the spirit of collaboration and synergy among philanthropic institutions to improve and transform education in Indonesia.

    “This book provides an important overview of the current state of education in Indonesia, the efforts of philanthropic institutions to uphold the spirit of educational advocacy with justice and equality, opportunities for educational improvement through the Merdeka Belajar movement, and how philanthropic institutions collectively support national education programs,” said Iwan. He believes that the book can serve as a crucial reference for both central and local governments in developing strategic national work agendas to improve Indonesia’s education system.

    At the same event, Gusman Yahya, Executive Director PFI, highlighted in his remarks that education plays a key role in forming the foundation of sustainable development, individual well-being, and the progress of a nation. Therefore, investing in education is considered essential for achieving sustainable development and improving societal welfare.

    “Philanthropy, involving contributions from civil society and the private sector, can play a vital role in supporting government efforts. Philanthropy makes significant contributions to addressing challenges in the education sector, helping to advance a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable education system,” said Gusman.

    Gusman emphasised the need to strengthen the principle of collaboration involving all actors, including philanthropy. The flexibility of philanthropic institutions to co-create and collaborate on collective actions with fellow philanthropic institutions and public entities can accelerate and support national strategic goals.

    “We hope this work can inspire all parties to engage in deeper interventions on educational issues or for philanthropic institutions looking to start activities in the education sector in Indonesia,” concluded Gusman.

    One of the speakers at the 15th PTL event, Aryanti Savitri, Head of Strategic Planning and Partnership at Tanoto Foundation, stated that education is key to improving future lives. Therefore, Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropic organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, focuses on helping Indonesians access quality education.

    “We believe that every person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through our programmes, partnerships, and as a catalyst for others, we strive to enhance the quality of education and improve people’s living standards. Our mission is to develop individual potential and improve living standards through transformative quality education,” said Santi.

    Santi reiterated that quality education is not only the government’s responsibility but also requires the involvement of the private sector, including corporations, NGOs and philanthropic institutions. Strong public-private partnerships in addressing various aspects of the education sector can accelerate the improvement and equity of education quality in Indonesia.

    The 15th PTL event also featured expert speakers in the field of education, including Dini Dwi Kusumaningrum, Writer and Researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency’s Population Research Center; Agus Mashud A. Asngari, President Director of Pertamina Foundation; Avia Destimianti, Academic and Co-Founder & Director of Beneran Indonesia; and Irsyad Zamjani, Ph.D., Head of the Centre for Education Standards and Policies at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. The discussion was moderated by Nurma Fitrianingrum, Programme Officer at William and Lily Foundation.

    Ko Zin Thet

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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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