This new academy, located in Nongsa Digital Park will be operated by Infinite Learning, a division under PT Kinema Systrans Multimedia, and will be offering courses in the fields of AI, Hybrid Cloud and cyber security from the IBM SkillsBuild and Red Hat programs. Unlike the typical asynchronous e-learning courses which target students en masse, these courses will have students undergo a 5 month program that offers a unique opportunity for them to learn essential skills through a class which is 100 percent led by an instructor and workshops directly. Additionally, students will be given on-the-field training for 6 weeks with guidance and insight from industry experts in the tech field.

This academy will accept the first batch of students starting on March 6. The curriculum offered by the academy will also be integrated into the Kampus Merdeka program offered by the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry, which can be accessed by every student in Indonesia.

“Increasing practical skills can drive the digital transformation of Indonesia. We need the government, industry and academics to collaborate to help Indonesia increase the availability of essential technological skills here and realize the value of digital economy, which is sustained by Hybrid Cloud and AI”, said Paul Burton, general manager of IBM Asia-Pacific.

“Indonesia has one of the youngest demographics in the ASEAN region. By providing practical skills to the workforce of the future, this initiative will improve the nation’s strategy in refining their talents and solidify their competitive advantage in this increasingly digital world,” he added.

The students of the first batch will receive access, without cost, to the Red Hat Certified System Administration course, an AI and Cybersecurity course of IBM industry standard, which includes SkillsBuild, practical learning, case studies and digital credentials. The final assignment and final exams that the students will complete are essential in ensuring that the students enrolled have the technical skills necessary to enter the work force and meet the demands of the market. After graduating, students who pass will receive industry approved certification.

Following the pilot phase of the course, this academy will collaborate further with multiple institutions, starting with seven leading universities, to expand the curriculum, including more essential skills, starting with machine learning, basic AI, cloud architecture, cybersecurity techniques, web safety, zero-trust architecture and even the Red Hat administration system to a wider batch of students. This academy also plans to collaborate with even more universities and widen their scope to thousands of students in the next three years.

“One of the policies from Kampus Merdeka is their focus on building a forward-minded Indonesian workforce that can meet the demands of the digital economy sector, which is increasingly growing,” said education minister Nadiem Makarim. “Collaborating with industry pioneers like IBM will help the development of Indonesian digital talents and better prepare our students for work in the future,” he continued.

“Nongsa Digital Park is equipped with the technological infrastructure to support the TIK sector in this country to become the center of the digital economy ecosystem in Indonesia,” said Muhammad Rudi, head of BP Batam and the mayor of Batam. “The arrival of IBM Academy for Hybrid Cloud and AI in this developing industry city will help realize Indonesia’s priority in closing the gap of the work force regarding technological skills for over 9 million citizens by the year 2030. Aside from that, the location of this academy is strategic and close to Singapore, which houses the central offices of many giant technology companies including IBM Asia-Pacific, a great sign for Batam. 

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