Padang- Industrial Revolution 4.0 is one of the challenges for the education sector in Indonesia. This was also a serious concern at the IXth Indonesian National Education Convention (Konaspi) and the International Conference held at Padang State University (UNP), West Sumatra. Ganesha Education University academics also contributed their thoughts on how students and lecturers face the “new era”.
One of them is Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Dantes. In the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) session, on Thursday (15/3/2019) the former Chancellor of Undiksha explained that universities must prepare “weapons” to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0, a phenomenon that has changed the existing learning system. It was conveyed that students and lecturers both have roles that must be mutually beneficial. Especially for students, must understand that learning is an exploration of knowledge, as well as character development and personalization of learners. In its development, the education provided also emphasizes knowledge and general intellectual capacity in the complex life of the 21st century. In addition, through extracurricular activities, cognitive abilities are increased, including critical, systematic, lateral, and high-level thinking, as well as entrepreneurship. No less important, there needs to be new literacy to increase insight. “These are several things that need to be done for students,” he explained.
Meanwhile, lecturers must have strong core scientific competencies and soft skills which include critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Lecturers also have a role as spreaders of passion and inspiration for students, friends for students, and role models of character. It is no less important to have educational competence, competence and research, technology, and so on.
According to him, the implementation of education cannot be separated from the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Higher education institutions need to equip graduates with multiple competencies, education/students must actively explore learning resources, provide more space and time for students to build their soft skills, contribute to the “lifelong learning program”, and re- -curriculum orientation by providing opportunities for students to take courses across study programs, both in the fields of information and communication technology, languages, social humanities, and others.
Apart from Prof. Dantes, another academic from Undiksha also gave a presentation in a parallel session which took place separately, on Friday (15/3/2019) on various topics, ranging from teaching to those related to technology and science. On the same day, the event organized by the Association of Indonesian Educational Personnel Education Institutions (LPTKI) was officially closed by the Governor of West Sumatra, Prof. Dr. H. Irwan Prayitno, S.Psi., M.Sc. Undiksha Chancellor, Dr. I Nyoman Jampel, M.Pd was also present.(hms)