USP Provides 'Soft' Skills Training to Students

According to a recent international survey on quality of human resources, Indonesia ranked 59th among 60 developing countries surveyed (Jakarta Post, Opinion and Editorial - September 25, 2006). The finding, which reflects Indonesia’s critical state of human resource underdevelopment, has sparked Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno to question the quality of education in Indonesia and its relevance to the demands of the working industry.

Incompetence, which often derives from the absence of crucial technical and soft-skills training, has inevitably translated into poor human resource and high unemployment rate in this country. “The industries have offered numerous job opportunities but they cannot be filled because of the absence people or lack of competence,” the Minister said. “The education program is not linked to the labor market.”

Complaints on how formal learning institutions fail to address the dynamic requirements of the working industry are often heard across the media. While many Indonesian schools are struggling to provide proper technical, subject-content knowledge to students, soft skills such as interpersonal and leadership skills which are no less important in determining one’s employability are often left out from school curriculum.

In addressing to the problem, Sampoerna Foundation United Schools Program in collaboration with Toastmasters International held a Youth Leadership training program for all its 14 adopted schools all across Indonesia. Students and English teachers from the schools gather at Sampoerna Foundation’s headquarter in Jakarta on 30th-31st March 2007 to be trained by the Metropolitan Toastmasters Club. The program is aimed to develop effective communication and mentoring skills among youths, and prepare them to be leaders in both their personal and future professional life.

Group photo of representatives from 14 USP schools, the USP Director, and representatives from Metropolitan Toastmasters Club

After receiving trainings in public speaking, listening, speech preparation, and effective presentation skills from the Metropolitan Toastmasters club, students and teachers are expected to set up a youth leadership program in their respective schools to encourage other students to hone their communication and leadership potentials. “Through this activity, USP hopes to produce well-rounded students who possess both hard and soft skills to better meet their future professional needs,” said Ronald Stones, the USP Director.