Jakarta, 26 August 2024 – IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new collaborations to provide free training to youth and adult learners in Indonesia, aiming to equip thousands of Indonesians with essential digital skills for the AI era via IBM SkillsBuild program. Non-profit Markoding and Ciputra University are the latest organizations to collaborate with IBM in Indonesia.

Through Markoding, 1,300 women across Indonesia will gain access to web development and UX design training, new learning pathways, and mentorship through IBM SkillsBuild for Adult Learners. Meanwhile, Ciputra University will offer all its students in Surabaya, Makassar and its Distant Learning program AI fundamentals, Generative AI, AI ethics, prompt writing, machine learning, and many more through the IBM SkillsBuild for Academia. 

According to the latest IBM Institute for Business Value CEO Study, surveyed CEOs in Indonesia are facing culture and workforce challenges as they act quickly to implement and scale generative AI across their organizations.  51% of Indonesian CEOs are pushing their organization to adopt generative AI more quickly than some people are comfortable with but have yet to assess the impact of generative AI on their employees. This makes talent upskilling a vital element towards supporting the government’s 2045 Golden Indonesia vision for a sovereign, advanced, and sustainable nation by its centennial.

“In 2022, IBM pledged to train one million women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia, over the next five years. As of April 30, 2024, we have reached nearly 650,000 women and girls,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at IBM.    

Markoding (Yayasan Daya Kreasi Anak Bangsa) or “Mari kita koding! (“Let’s learn coding!”) is a non-profit organization established in 2017 based in Jakarta, with a mission to transform underprivileged youth to be a generation of innovators by equipping them with superpowers of 21st-century skills. The organization sees that Indonesia will face a shortage of ICT workers, with estimates of a shortage of around nine million skilled and semi-skilled ICT workers between 2015-2030. Markoding hopes to help offer relevant skills for new job openings in the ICT sector that do not require a formal education or degree.

Universitas Ciputra is focused on creating graduates with the necessary thinking skills and social capabilities to become problem solvers to the real need of different communities. It focuses on an entrepreneurship-based education that cultivates the 7 Entrepreneurial Spirits of passion, independence, market sensitivity, creativity, risk taking, persistence and high ethical standards.

The two organizations join IBM SkillsBuild collaborators such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology’s Kampus Merdeka program together with training partners Infinite Learning, Hacktivate, and Skilvul. Three cohorts with one thousand students have been trained in Red Hat Certified System Administrator and Artificial Intelligence. Already thousands of graduates are holding AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Hybrid Cloud digital badges that are proudly displayed on their social media and resumes. 

“Indonesia's rapid adoption of generative AI underscores the critical importance of a skilled workforce. Markoding’s partnership with IBM is a significant step towards addressing this challenge. By equipping 1,300 women with in-demand digital skills, we empower them to contribute to Indonesia’s economic growth and digital innovation ecosystem.” Amanda Simandjuntak, Founder of Markoding, Perempuan Innovasi.

"At Universitas Ciputra, we work to be on the leading edge of AI and digital education, equipping our students with the essential skills to innovate and tackle real-world challenges. Our partnership with IBM through the SkillsBuild Program aligns perfectly with this mission in fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative thinking within all of our campuses, including those for distance learning. Through the infusion of IBM's resources into our curriculum, we are not only preparing students to contribute Indonesia’s vision of  Golden Indonesia 2045 but also to emerge as leaders in the field of AI and digital technologies for the future." explained Prof. Dr. Ir. Denny Bernardus, M.M, Executive Board Secretary of Universitas Ciputra.

“As part of IBM’s commitment to support the Indonesian government’s Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, we are ready to help organizations rethink the skills and job roles required to leverage AI as well as upskill their existing and future workforce,” said Roy Kosasih, President Director, IBM Indonesia. “It should be noted that companies more than likely already have the talent in house to help boost productivity gains and identify potential efficiency gaps. As such, a culture that helps employees see the value of using the latest tech skills such as AI and cybersecurity would result in new innovations within the business.”

These collaborations advance IBM's global commitment to skill 30 million people by 2030, and we have already reached more than 11.5 million learners globally.

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About IBM SkillsBuild

IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program aimed at increasing access to technology education. Through the program, IBM supports adult learners, and high school and university students and faculty, to develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. The program includes an online platform that is complemented by customized practical learning experiences delivered in collaboration with a global network of partners. The open version of IBM SkillsBuild is an online platform offering over 1,000 courses in twenty languages on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other technical disciplines — as well as in workplace skills such as design thinking. Participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials that are recognized by the market. The enhanced version of IBM SkillsBuild may also include workshops, expert conversations with IBM coaches and mentors, project-based learning, access to IBM software, specialized support from partners through the learning process, and connection to career opportunities. Visit skillsbuild.org to learn more.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.  Visit www.ibm.com for more information.