Provide AI-Based Free Technology Platform, Washwani Foundation Targets 3 Million People To Get To Work

JAKARTA - As the country with the fourth largest education system in the world and a fairly resilient economic system in the global arena, Indonesia has a great opportunity to become a superpower. The eight Asta Cita missions initiated by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, illustrate a number of concrete steps that need to be taken to realize the 8% economic growth target by 2029 and the vision of Indonesia Gold 2045.

The mission carried by the Wadhwani Foundation (WF), is to accelerate job growth and enable millions of people to get a decent wage and live a dignified life, in line with third Asta Cita, namely Improving quality employment opportunities, encouraging entrepreneurship, developing creative industries, and continuing infrastructure development. For more than a decade, WF facilitates beneficiaries to get jobs faster, and helps employers get quality and ready-to-work workers.

WF President and President Director, Dr. Ajay Kela, on his first visit to Indonesia explained to the media crew the WF flagship programs that have affected millions of people in more than 15 countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.

"Since its establishment in 2001, the Wadhwani Foundation through the Wadhwani Skilling Network (WSN) and the Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN) has continued to develop initiatives to develop the capabilities of prospective workers and workers (upskilling) as well as strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem to realize economic independence and encourage the country's progress," said Dr. Ajay Kela at a media meeting held Thursday (5/12) at the Ministry of Basic and Medium Education (Kemendikdasmen) Library.

The WF upskilling program, namely JobRise and JobReady, focuses on the development of soft skills designed to be able to adapt to user needs and the diversity of the work sector. WF has developed an AI-based platform (artificial intelligence) to present interesting and personalized training materials. The GenAI technology used for WF platforms in Indonesian has been developed, combined with direct assistance with facilitators to organize face-to-face simulations and collaborations. Meanwhile, WF through the WEN initiative provides knowledge support related to business development strategies for young entrepreneurial candidates.

In addition, WF has also just launched the Washwani Charitable Foundation (WCF) initiative which focuses on strengthening upskilling service provider institutions and entrepreneurial support through grant funds. With all these initiatives, WF targets 3 million people in Indonesia to get a decent job by 2030.

On the same occasion, Daniel Tumiwa as Vice President and Country Director of the Wadhwani Foundation Indonesia conveyed a number of positive impacts that have been felt by a number of educational institutions in Indonesia from WF programs. Currently, WFI has collaborated with 76 universities throughout Indonesia with a total of 32,758 participants.

"The harmony between the mission of the Wadhwani Foundation and the Wadhwani Foundation Indonesia and Asta Cita initiated by Mr. President Prabowo Subianto is proof of our commitment to be involved in efforts to improve the economy and welfare of the Indonesian people by supporting the realization of quality talent and a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem," explained Daniel.

The closest agenda that WFI is trying to establish and strengthen cooperation with more universities with the main focus of final semester students, Vocational High School (SMK) and vocational institutions so that graduates have more provisions and opportunities to get jobs after completing their education. Daniel admitted that WFI had held an audience with the Directorate General of Vocational Education of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, and the Human Resources Development Agency of the Ministry of Information and Digital Affairs, and received a positive response to the initiative.

The WCF initiative is also now starting to be explored in Indonesia to strengthen institutions and companies that provide upskilling services for workers with the support of grant funds of US$15 million (around Rp15-75 billion Rupiah) per institution. This grant fund can reduce the training costs that must be spent by employers.

"Of course we hope to cooperate with more and more educational institutions in Indonesia so that our graduates are more ready to be employed and prove their abilities in the global arena. Thus, we can help accelerate the process of new graduates to adapt to new workplaces and continue to excel," concluded Daniel.