Human resources and innovation are the keys because we cannot solely rely on mines, forests, seas, water, and cheap labor wagesPadang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry stated that human resources and innovation are the main keys to achieving the goals of the nation's founding fathers.
"Human resources and innovation are the keys because we cannot solely rely on mines, forests, seas, water, and cheap labor wages," the ministry's Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Nizam, stated here on Tuesday.
During a working visit to Andalas University, West Sumatra, to present the latest higher education policy there, Nizam remarked that if Indonesia only relies on natural resources, it will fall into the middle-income country trap.
He cautioned that without the power of human resources and innovation, the natural resource wealth and the demographic bonus period will not provide any added value.
Hence, he stated that competitive and superior human resources, with noble character, are part of every nation's economic progress.
Meanwhile, Nizam explained that almost all developed countries in the world have transformed their economies into innovation-based economies.
As an example, he stated that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is rich in natural resources, has begun to shift to an innovation-based economy.
He explained that the UAE realized that it could not forever rely on natural resources, so it has slowly transformed and invested in the human resource and innovation sectors.
He noted that the UAE also attempted to invite the world's best universities, such as Harvard and Stanford University, to open campuses in the oil-rich country.
"Meanwhile, Indonesia's only capital to progress and change is to prepare human resources and innovation with all existing capabilities," he remarked.
Through the Freedom in Learning, Freedom in Campus or the MBMK program, the ministry encourages innovation by creating a path of collaboration between campuses and the industry world.
Earlier, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture stated that the preparation of superior human resources is one of the national priority programs in order to realize the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
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Translator: M Zulfikar, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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