Three Million Digital Talenta Needed, School of Computer Science BINUS University Ranks Second Best in Indonesia

JAKARTA - Indonesia holds two numbers that are rarely mentioned together, namely the highest AI adoption rate in the world, with 92 percent of knowledge workers already using generative AI in daily work, and the projection of a shortage of three million digital talents by 2030. The two are not contradictions, but two sides of the same tension.

Indonesia is very quick to adopt technology, but is still racing to build enough people who can design, develop, and manage the technology from within. Indonesia's digital economy is projected to contribute more than 130 billion US dollars to GDP by 2025, a growth that requires a talent foundation that cannot be relied on solely from the adoption of tools alone.

This deficiency is not about the number of graduates who are not enough, but rather about the type of competence needed by the industry which continues to move beyond the conventional curriculum. The Future of Jobs 2025 report from the World Economic Forum places AI and big data literacy as well as cybersecurity as the fields with the fastest growth in demand in the next five years.

As many as 30 percent of companies in Indonesia report difficulties in finding high-quality talent even though the number of applicants is not lacking. The industry is no longer looking for coders with basic skills, but rather individuals who can build AI systems, design cloud architectures, secure digital infrastructure, and translate all of that into complex business contexts.

Responding to this shift, the School of Computer Science at BINUS University takes an approach that puts students face to face with the complexity from the beginning of their studies. Concentrations such as AI-Driven Development and cybersecurity are designed together with more than 2,200 active industry partners to ensure that the curriculum is constantly updated as market needs change.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Derwin Suhartono, S.Kom., MTI - Dean School of Computer Science BINUS University explained that students not only learn about technology, but also get used to working like engineers by identifying problems without textbook solutions, choosing approaches from various possibilities, and holding technical decisions accountable in a real business context.

"We are not only focusing on technical capabilities. We want to shape talents who are able to lead digital transformation and create innovation," he said in a written statement, Thursday, May 21.

This commitment has received measurable external confirmation from the global industry. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 in the field of Computer Science and Information Systems, the School of Computer Science of BINUS University achieved the second best position in Indonesia overall. This ranking includes various indicators, such as Research and Discovery, Global Engagement, and includes Employability which reflects the level of trust of recruiters and the industry in the quality of graduates.

This means that this position is not only a reflection of local academic quality, but also a comprehensive recognition from the global technology industry community that graduates of the BINUS School of Computer Science meet the competency standards required in the digital labor market.

The track record is built from experience that places students in real-world standards since their studies. Students of the School of Computer Science at BINUS learn to implement AI practically in the curriculum, supported by access to AI-based services integrated into the campus ecosystem.

Collaborations with Apple and Microsoft ensure they are in direct contact with global technology industry standards, while engagement in hackathons, ICPC competitions, and innovation challenges measure their ability under the pressure of international competition. The result is not just a transcript of values, but a portfolio of competencies that have been tested in conditions that reflect the real world of work.

For families who support their children's educational journey in the field of technology, the most fundamental question is often not about the name of the university, but about certainty: will this choice open up real and sustainable career opportunities? The second best position in Indonesia according to QS 2026 provides an answer that does not rely on the claims of the institution, but on an objective assessment that includes academic reputation, industry trust, and research strength simultaneously.

Combined with consistent data, 80.1 percent of BINUS undergraduate graduates are already working at the time of graduation and 36.2 percent are absorbed in global companies, these figures provide a much more concrete picture of the return on investment in education that has been made.

"The industry doesn't have time to re-educate new graduates. What we ensure is that our students have already faced that complexity during their studies, before their first day of work," explained Prof. Dr. Ir. Derwin Suhartono, S.Kom., MTI.

BINUS School of Computer Science alumni are now working as software engineers, AI engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity specialists, and product managers in national and multinational technology companies, spread across various countries including Singapore, the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia. The gap of three million digital talents in 2030 is a challenge that requires educational institutions to be able to produce graduates with the right depth of competence and a verifiable track record.

"The School of Computer Science BINUS built both of them simultaneously, and the second best position in Indonesia according to QS 2026 is a confirmation that the direction is right.