Summary of the Manpower Minister's Public Lecture at Bung Hatta University: Youth Readiness in Facing the Digital Era

On July 11, 2025, Bung Hatta University (UBH) Padang hosted the Indonesian Minister of Manpower, Prof. Yassierli, for a Public Lecture titled "The New Direction of Indonesian Employment and the Role of the Youth in the Digital Era." This event, which was part of the Bung Hatta Memorial Lecture Series, aimed to prepare UBH students for the rapidly changing challenges of the working world.

In his presentation, Minister Yassierli highlighted several major challenges facing Indonesia, including low Human Capital Index (HCI): Indonesia's HCI is still low (0.54) compared to the ASEAN average (0.59). Lack of Digital Skills: Only 19% of the Indonesian workforce possesses digital skills, far behind developed countries (50%-60%). Technological Disruption: The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies demands that the workforce possess soft skills as a key to adaptation and competitiveness, in addition to hard skills.

The Minister emphasized that the younger generation has a strategic role as agents of change in the digital era. Students are encouraged to build a growth mindset and an entrepreneurial mindset to create opportunities amid uncertainty. Develop cross-disciplinary competencies, combining technical skills, cognitive skills, and soft skills (such as leadership, communication, and teamwork).

Acknowledging the complexity of the challenges, Minister Yassierli called for close collaboration between the Academic World, Industry, and the Government. This collaboration is necessary to create an employment ecosystem that is adaptive, inclusive and capable of integrating technology with local wisdom to produce a competent and competitive workforce for national development.

The Rector of UBH, Prof. Diana Kartika, welcomed the Minister's presence as a form of concrete government support. The Rector affirmed UBH's commitment to not only producing academically intelligent graduates but also graduates who possess the character and skills relevant to the needs of industry and society.