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The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) has announced an ambitious plan to establish Digital Talent Centres (DTC) in 34 provinces across Indonesia. This initiative is a strategic effort to bridge the significant digital talent gap in the country.
Hary Budiarto, Head of the Human Resource Development Agency (BPSDM) at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, explained that establishing DTCs addresses the gap between the availability and the demand for digital talent in Indonesia.
According to studies conducted up to 2030, Indonesia has an estimated availability of 9,034,849 digital talents, primarily graduates from formal education sectors under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. However, the demand for digital talent by 2030 is projected to reach 12,092,110 individuals, indicating a shortfall of approximately 2.7 million digital talents that needs to be urgently addressed.
Hary Budiarto stated that the DTC development would be carried out in phases according to budget availability. The development will be divided into three priority levels based on each region’s degree of need and the digital talent gap.
“There are areas categorised as priority 1, priority 2, and priority 3. The third priority areas have a smaller gap and are progressing well in meeting the existing gaps,” Hary explained.
Currently, one DTC is already operational in Cikarang, West Java. The Cikarang DTC was built with grant funds from the South Korean government and is equipped with essential facilities, including dormitories, coworking spaces, laboratories, classrooms, an auditorium, a training centre, and a sports area. The dormitory in Cikarang DTC can accommodate 300 training participants simultaneously.
Next, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics will soon establish a DTC in Medan, North Sumatra. Unlike the Cikarang DTC, the development in Medan will be funded independently without foreign grants. The location in Medan was chosen based on the availability of an existing Technical Implementation Unit and vacant land.
To achieve the goal of digital talent development, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics collaborates with various educational institutions, vocational training centres, the Productivity Improvement Centre of the Ministry of Manpower, PIDI 4.0 of the Ministry of Industry, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). This collaboration aims to create a “super digital team” capable of quickly and effectively developing digital talent.
“Developing digital talent cannot be done alone. We must collaborate and create what we call a super digital team,” emphasised Hary Budiarto.
The Ministry of Communication and Informatics also provides various learning modules for participants through a Learning Management System (LMS). After registration, participants can access the LMS and learn through multiple available modules, ranging from essential to advanced competencies.
“We have provided basic competencies. The public can access the LMS by registering first, then they can learn the modules. The learning content can be adjusted in terms of duration and other specifics. There are also intermediate and advanced levels, which we conduct in a hybrid manner,” Hary Budiarto explained.
In addition to collaboration with educational institutions and the government, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics maintains close relationships with companies and industries that require digital talent. The DTC will train digital talent according to the specific needs of companies, including providing relevant tests and projects before connecting talents with employment contracts.
Establishing Digital Talent Centres in Indonesia is a crucial strategic step in addressing the digital talent gap. With the presence of DTCs, Indonesia is expected to meet the growing demand for digital talent in line with technological advancements. Collaboration between the government, educational institutions, and industry is critical to successfully developing high-quality digital talent ready to compete globally.