Face of Education

Asia/ Indonesia/ 19.03.2019/ Source: indonesiaexpat.biz.

Last year, one of Indonesia’s national agendas was “Making Indonesia 4.0”. In his opening address to the April 2018 Industrial Summit, President Joko Widodo stated that the Fourth Industrial Revolution – or Industry 4.0 – is now transforming the world. This revolution is characterised by digital manufacturing that adopts computers and automation, alongside smart and autonomous systems fuelled by data and machine learning.

Indonesia must anticipate this big shift. One of the steps we must take is to improve and advance human resources to have the important skills of innovation, creativity, and problem solving. Education is a strategic sector to prepare a well-equipped generation that is ready to enter the Industry 4.0 world.

As the world is constantly changing, education must adapt to current global trends. Traditional education in the previous industrial age was designed for mass distribution and implementing the “factory manufacturing model”. School was designed as a “manufacturer” that was organised like assembly lines to mould students into passive recipients of information or knowledge. Teachers were the only source of knowledge. As a result, students became highly dependent on teachers. Education valued competition, end results, standardisation, and conformity as indicators of success, thus producing close-minded intellectuals instead of creators and innovators.

This “old-school” traditional method of education is obsolete compared to what our world needs nowadays. Of course, knowledge is indispensable, but it is simply not enough. Our country no longer needs graduates with only perfect scores. We also need inventors and problem-solvers who can apply their knowledge into action, think on their feet, and work collaboratively towards a better future.

Because innovation should begin at school, Education 4.0 will be the future face of education. It has been designed in response to the need for the Industry 4.0, where humans use machines to discover new, creative possibilities. In Education 4.0, teachers must prepare students not only with knowledge and information, but also by promoting creativity and refining students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With Education 4.0, students will engage in intense research-based learning on a specific problem whilst being mentored by an expert in that field and equipped with advanced technology.

Sekolah Pelita Harapan is committed to being at the forefront of education in Indonesia by pioneering new ideas and challenging the conventional wisdom of traditional education. As we move from the traditional Education 1.0 and 2.0 phases, we have been applying the Education 3.0 model, which allows students to become more independent learners. It also promotes the consistent use of up-to-date digital technology as an integral part of the students’ education as we move towards applying the Education 4.0 model.

We have initiated the first Center of Excellence in Applied Science, known as the Applied Science Academy. The Center of Excellence aims to provide students with advanced research, best practices and support in specialised areas, and mentoring by field experts.

The Applied Science Academy has been founded to empower and nurture our student scientists. This is possible by providing authentic exposure to a research environment for scientific exploration in order to produce young innovators in applied science. To support this program, we also provide new and advanced lab equipment and materials.

Indonesian researcher, Dr. Eden Steven, Ph. D., is the director of the SPH Applied Science Academy. He received a doctoral degree from Florida State University, specialising in advanced materials and electronics. Dr. Steven is mentoring our students alongside competent professors from UPH. We look forward to launching many Centers of Excellence in the future including: The Center of Excellence in Performing Arts and Music, the Center of Excellence in Arts, and the Center of Excellence in Physical Education.

While maintaining our roots as a Christian school, we continue to adapt to educational trends to meet the needs of 21st Century students. We aim to enable a generation of innovators who are willing to use their God-given talents to bring transformation to the world, for His glory and for the benefit of this nation.

Source of the notice: https://indonesiaexpat.biz/education-2/education-4-0-the-future-face-of-education/