"Education is very important to boost our economy nationally. What kind of education? Of course, qualified education," Bharata said during the Alumni Connect event held by the Indonesian Students Association (PPI) at BNI Tower in Jakarta on Saturday.
Bharata observed that education does not have a direct impact on the growth and movement of the national economy. However, quality education can drive the national economy with the help of innovations and research from education actors.
Bharata explained that economic growth is driven by four components: household consumption, government consumption, investment, and exports and imports. Innovations and research from the world of education can optimize these components of economic growth, he added.
Additionally, he stated that the economy will grow if innovations and research results are applied massively in the industrial world to develop existing technology.
"It is useless if we gain knowledge but do not implement it," he added.
Bharata emphasized that quality education also includes education that constantly tracks and adapts to trends in order to meet the needs of society and industry.
For example, nursing schools must be able to adapt to public health needs, including after the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
Hospitality schools must also understand trends related to tourism that are currently favored by the community. This would allow the gained knowledge to be implemented more optimally, Bharata added.
"We have to keep up with the trends. Education must adopt trends to have a quality impact nationally," he said.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul H, Resinta S
Editor: Anton Santoso
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