Vision to Build Humans Resources
At least in the next five years, "building human resources" will be key in this republic. Not because it will be carried by Jokowi-Ma\'ruf Amin who won the 2019 presidential election, but because of the essence of substance.
At least in the next five years, "building human resources" will be key in this republic.
Not because it will be carried by Jokowi-Ma\'ruf Amin who won the 2019 presidential election, but because of the essence of substance: Progress belongs to the nation with quality human resources. Building human resources is a way to advance the nation. This political vision must be translated into the direction of policies and programs. How to do it? There are three keys. First, what kind of Indonesia that wants to be realized; second, what kind of Indonesian people are needed; and third, how to build human resources like that?
Vision about Indonesia
What will Indonesia be like in the future? We all have dreams. Young scientists have formulated 45 key questions that must be answered in preparing 100 years of independent Indonesia and pouring them into SAINS45 (Kompas, 10/9/2015). The diaspora proposes the main aspects that must be built toward Indonesia 2045. Many other groups and organizations offer similar things. President Jokowi also has a 2015-2085 Indonesian Dream, which was delivered in Merauke at the beginning of his presidency. The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) translates it into Indonesia\'s vision of 2045.
It is no exaggeration to say that Indonesia is heading there. Although there are still much work to be done related to law enforcement, protection of minority rights and the handling of conflicts, development indicators show progress. After building physical infrastructure and social protection to deal with the main problems of poverty and inequality, the results are visible. Since 2015, economic growth has stabilized in the range of 5.1 percent amid global economic turmoil. The poverty rate has been suppressed for the first time below double digits at 9.66 percent. The downward gap is marked by a decline in the Gini coefficient from 0.41 to 0.38. Inflation is controlled at around 3 percent and unemployment is at the lowest level since reform at 5.34 percent (Jokowi-JK\'s four-year report, 2018).
Human development performance also shows some progress. Life expectancy rates have risen: women from 72.2 years in 2012 to 73.06 years in 2017 and men from 68.29 years to 69.16 years. The length of school attendance went up from 7.9 years in 2015 to 8 years in 2018. The score in the Human Development Index (HDI) rose from 0.686 in 2015 to 0.694 in 2017 (UN, 2018). Meanwhile, Statistics Indonesia (BPS, 2018) disclosed that the Happiness Index, which includes life satisfaction, affection and the meaning of life (eudaimonia) rose from 68 (2014) to 70 (2017).
This country is indeed getting better: its status is rising from a low to middle income country. However, it will not automatically become a rich or advanced country. There are many warnings about middle income traps that are ready to affect it if it is careless. With 260 million people now, the demographic bonus will only be enjoyed until 2031, with the lowest dependency ratio in 2028 (Bappenas, 2017). To avoid this trap, development must be inclusive and focus on human quality. Obviously, building a future Indonesia means building people.
Building Indonesians
In this age of the digital economy, the fast will be one that is decisive. Not just the one that is smart, let alone just "big". Industry Revolution 4.0 marginalizes those who are slow. The drastic changes that originally occurred only in business and manufacturing sectors have now spread to all sectors, including government and overall development. Not only professionals and business people, but also lecturers and teachers, doctors, farmers and fishermen, even activists and government employees are forced to adapt to this progress. And it is getting clearer who are fast and achieving benefits, and others who are walking in difficulty to catch up.
Its implication deeply thrusts to the heart of the case: what kind of Indonesian people should be built and how? Just being healthy and smart is not enough. They must be productive and have character so as not to be eliminated by this 4.0 era. What is the strategy? I offer three principles: (1) fundamental improvements in the upstream for all; (2) encourage excellence in the downstream; and (3) leaps in policy and governance.
First, problems in the upstream must be dealt with completely. It means that priority must be given to the quality of health and education services and the reduction of poverty. In the 2015-2018 period, Rp 233 trillion was allocated for health development and Rp 564 trillion for education. As of 2018, the National Health Insurance (JKN) has protected more than 219 million people with over 97 million being borne by the government. The JKN is the largest health insurance in the world. In the same period, more than 18 million students and santri (students of Islamic boarding schools) received Smart Indonesia Cards and 368,000 with achievement were given scholarships.
More than that, social security networks for the poorest must still be ensured. The Hope Family Program (PKH) with a total budget of Rp 45 trillion in 2015-2018 helped the lives of 10 million beneficiary poor families (KPM). This budget continues to rise, now at Rp 34.4 trillion. The Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) as a substitute for rastra/raskin (prosperous rice/poor people\'s rice) as the biggest breakthrough in the field of social assistance from Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla (JK) had been enjoyed by 10 million KPM as of 2018 and will be expanded to 15 million KPM by 2019.
Later on, JKN must cover all citizens without exception (universal health coverage); formal education up to secondary school (K12) must be mandatory and free for all. Those who graduate from secondary school and continue their studies in any department in universities must be looked after by the state until they graduate. The promise of the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) at university must realize this, especially for those who had not dared to have the dream of going to college because of poverty. The Sembako (Basic Commodity) Card is an effort to improve the quality and benefits of BPNT so that the poor cannot only get rice and eggs, but also proper nutrition, such as through vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and other sources of protein and carbohydrates.
Another problem in the upstream is the revitalization of vocational education and training. The National Vocational Committee that has been formed must ensure the link and match of vocational graduates with DUDI (industrial business world) because the largest source of unemployment is graduates of Vocational High Schools. The Management and Training Center curriculum must be overhauled to suit industrial development. Here is the importance of the Pre-working Card to ensure that 130 million workers have skills according to the needs of industry.
The second principle, excellence up to the downstream. This is the operationalization of a vision that focuses on human resources. After, or while, fulfilling the right of all citizens to live in a decent, healthy and educated life, the state must capture those who emerge as the best to become the locomotive of progress in all sectors: from art and culture, sports, academics, research and innovation, industry, up to the state civil apparatus (ASN).
Indonesia\'s human resources profile at the macro level is still low. The Global Talent Competitiveness Index shows Indonesia is far behind, in 77th position out of 119 countries (INSEAD, 2018). Some of the factors that influence it are the ability to take local talents to the global stage and the ability to attract global talent where Indonesia is respectively ranked 61st out of 119 countries and 84th of 118 countries. This is where the importance of ecosystem is important to develop national talent. There must be political will as well as policies and governance to manage and develop Indonesian talents.
Political will can be demonstrated through the courage of the leaders of the ministries/institutions/regional governments (K/L/D) to entrust strategic roles to young ASNs who are competent and have integrity. The private sector has long done this. General Electric, for example, currently entrusts 89.9 percent of its leaders to young people, with an average age of 38 years old. The government can do the same. A number of K/L/D recruit potential young people, either as ASN through open bidding, or at the project management office (PMO). The impact has been felt, such as accelerating infrastructure development, reforming a number of ministries and improving the performance of regional governments. In addition to injecting fresh blood into the bureaucracy, there is an investment in the younger generation to learn to lead and build a strong and tested mentality.
In terms of policy and governance, it is necessary to ensure that the grand design, strategy and talent management roadmap become national priorities. The challenge is the fact that there is no formula that applies to all when speaking about the talents.
Jokowi-Ma’ruf\'s political promises about the Four Endowment Funds can be used strategically to accelerate this downstream excellence process. (1) Education Endowment Fund to increase the capital base of the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) from Rp 60 trillion to Rp 100 trillion in 2024 is an enabler to give birth to talents in the academic field. (2) Research Endowment Funds can be flexible schemes to encourage research performance to be more focused on producing innovative breakthroughs, complementing the already launched DIPI (Indonesian Science Fund) initiative. (3) To be ranked the 500th or even 300th in the world, the University Endowment Fund can be used by campuses to build their capacity. (4) The Endowment Fund for Culture, which is already common in developed countries, must be directed at building infrastructure and working spaces for arts and cultural workers, as well as to increase their capacity.
Jumping forward
The third principle of building Indonesians is a leap of policy and governance that must follow a vision, not the other way around. From the universe of development, I choose the three most important ones: social welfare; science and technology, innovation, and art; and government and bureaucratic reform. Policies in the social welfare sector must clearly distinguish between supply and demand. The implementation of the ministries and institutions K/Ls follows this policy. The task of service providers of the ministries and institutions must focus on improving the quality of services: health, primary education, higher education and employment. Meanwhile, the ministries and institutions that handle the demand for social protection must improve data accuracy, especially the use of NIK and BDT as the beneficiary base. The two types of ministries and institutions must be separated. They can no longer handle demand and manage supplies, such as the Smart Indonesia Cards.
The science and technology, innovation and art sectors need reform. The problem is not limited state funds, but the need for the ecosystem. Accept the fact that innovation, art, and the development of knowledge can never be forced. What can be done is to build an ecosystem so that creativity grows, innovations emerge, and new ideas are born. To realize this, the role of the epistemic community is important. The Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), the Indonesian Academy of Young Scientists (ALMI), or the National Research Council (DRN), and also the Arts Council, must be ensured independently, by expertise, and really get space to assess the validity of ideas that will receive funding support and to ensure the principle of flexibility in funding science and technology and art.
Finally, bureaucratic reform and governance must be able to pursue the progress of the times. In short, said President Jokowi, "Dilan Governance: digital serves". Compared to the private sector, the government and the bureaucracy are indeed the slowest to adopt and adapt to technological advances. Therefore, the government must ensure the availability of data and maps that are open and freely accessible to the public. In addition to digitizing public services, development planning must utilize big data analytics. The indicator of the success of e-government is not only saving IT budgets and technological integration, but increasing people\'s trust in the government that is increasingly open, easy to reach and serve.
According to the Gallup International (2017) survey, Indonesia is the most optimistic nation in the world, above the US, Sweden and Italy in looking at the condition of its country, especially the economy and welfare, amid global development. This optimism has a positive impact on development so far which gives better hope. However, despite many achievements, work has not been completed. Realizing the vision of building human resources is the key to achieving the progress of the nation\'s future.
Yanuar Nugroho, Deputy II of Presidential Chief of Staff in the Field of Social, Cultural and Ecological Strategies