Professor Komaruddin Hidayat, PhD
Rector of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta Indonesia
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INDONESIA is one of the most pluralistic societies
in the world with hundred of ethnic and linguistic
groups, variety of social systems and religions,
and abundant natural resources
Following the downfall of the Suharto regime in
1998, Indonesia experienced political and social
turmoil that ushered in the Era Reformasi (reform
era).
◦ a rapid transition to democracy and lifting of many political
restrictions
◦ a better condition for freedom of expression, the
emergence of a diversity of political forces
◦ its nature of democratic character remains weak, unstable
and immature
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Inherent in Indonesia case is an internal
continuous challenge to maintain its political
complexities, socio-ethnic diversities, its
cultural uniqueness, its natural resources and
its national identity
at the same time to actively take part in the
new interconnected global world and
civilization in its social, political and
economic life.
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The broader premise that understanding THRD as
a new model of skilled human mobility cannot be
reduced simply to a single explanation from a
single discipline of economy or management.
In fact such analysis requires different and
various perspectives from disciplines across the
social sciences and humanities.
Some basic questions:
◦ What are the opportunities of THRD in Indonesia?
◦ What factors that may contribute to the success of
THRD?
◦ What are the main obstacles and challenges to THRD in
Indonesia?
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Transnational human resource development
(THRD) will eventually affect Indonesia.
With its natural resources, its steady and
consistent economic performance in many recent
years and its huge prospective market, Indonesia
would be one of important destination countries
for THRD.
Problems Arise due to:
◦ The lack of skilled local human resources will mainly
serve as a catalyst for the incoming of skilled labors to
work and operate in the country.
THRD is expected to generate as well sustain and
preserve the common goals, good values,
intercultural relationship on the one hand
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Unplanned THRD would contribute at a larger
extend to the gradual change of social life style
of local people.
Affecting the formation of hybrid culture both in
positive and negative way.
Existing modes of conceptualizing THRD failed to
explain the need to satisfy a variety of social and
cultural requirements in Indonesia.
◦ THRD has a little impact to the betterment of local
society.
◦ It may create prejudice and trigger such a different
social conflict based on this new socio-economic
identity.
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THRD in Indonesian context should be
understood in different levels.
◦ First, in micro level or in the organizational level,
THRD in Indonesia context requires an
understanding of the opportunities and risks across
national, including politics in national and regional
levels.
◦ Second, in macro level, the role of government is
crucial in shaping policies regarding economic
activities and THRD.
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The Law No. 22, 1999 on Local Government has devolved
central government powers and responsibilities to local
governments
◦ in administrating all sectors except for security and defense,
foreign policy, monetary and fiscal matters, justice, and religious
affairs.
◦ in deciding and conducting the development process in their own
regions including in HRD.
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The absence of a detailed plan to recruit, train and
manage local human resources, and the absence of clear
regulations to simplify its procedures and processes
hampered this new regional responsibilities.
Besides this structural problem on qualified human
resources, there is such a bias to promote ‘putra daerah’
or local or native inhabitant to take the job or to fill
important positions in the office.
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The problem of trans-regional human resources
where contest over the ‘insiders’ (putra daerah) and
the ‘outsiders’ (those who come from other regions)
become a latent threat in some regions.
If regions are not really settled yet with the issue of
‘putra daerah’ vis-à-vis the outsiders, the
phenomenon of THRD may sharpen the problem of
human resources in some regions.
Overall, regional autonomy or decentralization policy
is not merely a matter of regulating the relationship
among governance offices or simply a transfer of
power from central to local authorities.
◦ It is about regulating the relationship between the
government and the society.
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Quality of education is one of main issues in
developing human resources in Indonesia in
general and in anticipating THRD within the
following years. Education quality is closely
related to the quality of human resources.
It is the fact that Indonesia human resources
is still far from being desirable and below
that of the neighboring countries.
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Attention on education system that may ease any
possible unbridged gap resulted from the
unintended consequences of THRD.
◦ One of ways for this is by standardization of education
so the outcomes of those education institutions are not
only well trained, but also well prepared for regional
(and global) market competition.
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Standardization of education does not mean such
internationalization or homogenization of
education.
◦ allow diversity in understanding local value but at the
same time to adopt global thinking and networking.
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Education should
◦ be reoriented not only to the purpose and ideal
function of education to liberate and enable
humans, but also to utilize them with skill and
expertise for their future.
◦ be strengthened rather than uprooted learners from
the local culture and context.
◦ produce the students who are equipped with
competencies, and able to work in a system of
hybrid competences existing in a multicultural and
intercultural environment.
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The importance of cooperation of Asian
universities in preparing the next Asian
generation.
◦ To help prepare scientific-based community but also
produce agent for future strategic policies.
◦ As far as THRD is concerned, cooperation among Asian
universities would improve the production and
distribution of skillful next generation with unique
strong Asian culture and values.
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Universities serve as the main agent for regional
changes in economic, social and politics.
◦ It is from the universities inventions and innovations for
human’s better life are initiated.
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Fostering democracy in Indonesia particularly in
relation with religion (in this stance in Islam as
the religion of the majority)
◦ The discourse of democracy and Islam in the country
was firstly nurtured in Islamic universities like UIN (State
Islamic university).
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Democracy may not operate well in Indonesia if
religion is neglected. This is due to the fact that
religion is important aspect of Indonesian
people.
The importance of university in Indonesia in
‘installing’ values system to the society.
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UIN Jakarta plays significant role in preventing
and eliminating the spread of religious radicalism
among Indonesian community.
For many moderate Muslims, not only because
religious radicalism is in fact ‘anomalistic’ and
‘abusing’ religion itself, it is also such bad news
for investment and development.
UIN Jakarta in particular becomes the agent in
disseminating a moderate understanding of Islam
in line with future regional and international
challenges of economic and social, politics.