IBM Hybrid Cloud & AI Academy Opening Ceremony

Thank you, Michael, Infinite Learning’s partnership in this venture is deeply appreciated.

Firstly, I too would like to acknowledge:

• His Excellency, Suryo Pratomo, Indonesian Ambassador for Singapore,
• Gordon S. Church, Consul and Principal Officer of U.S. Consulate Medan,
• Mayor of Batam, Muhammad Rudi, and of course
• Michael Wiluan, CEO PT Kinema Systrans Multimedia
• Special guests, students, media friends, IBMers, ladies and gentlemen.

IBM’s global Chairman and CEO, Arvind Krishna, stated “…Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not…”

That is why today’s announcement is both exciting and important. The launch of the IBM Academy for Hybrid Cloud and AI, in partnership with Infinite Learning, represents the creation of tremendous opportunity. Particularly for the talented university students who will be the first cohort to kick off a five-month learning journey, with classes commencing next month. (Courses commence March 6^th).

The IBM Academy for Hybrid Cloud and AI has been conceived via an innovative industry-academic partnership model, with support of the Indonesian government – and IBM would like to extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Communications and Informatics in particular. It provides an opportunity for students to build critical technical talent in the most in-demand areas of IT, including AI, data analysis, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, while expanding their career pathways and improving future employment potential.

For IBM, Indonesia represents a potent mix of high energy and deep potential making it the perfect location to establish the IBM Academy. Along with geography, the timing of its launch is also key.

This is because we have reached a dramatic inflection point in digital transformation driven in recent years by the impacts of COVID-19. In fact, pandemic recovery has accelerated digitization, with 65% of APAC GDP coming from digitally transforming enterprises and governments.

IBM’s 2021 CEO Study revealed that 42% of Indonesia’s business leaders recognized AI as one of the top technologies that will deliver benefits for them, with nearly 90% acknowledging cloud computing will be the key enabler for business agility and transformation.

So digital skills will be critical. Students today must have digital acumen and literacy to be able to fully contribute to and participate in the digital economy. Every company, every government and every industry going forward will be defined by how well it can leverage technology. Technology eminence will define the winners.

The Ministry of Finance predicts that Indonesia’s economy could gain as much as $2.8 trillion by 2040 through technology adoption. However, lack of job-ready skills has become a roadblock and a risk to Indonesia’s digital transformation progress.

For IBM, this has ignited deep reflection on the challenges of the labor market and how critical skills gaps can be addressed. As a global IT company, we deeply understand today’s business context and the technologies that empower and advance digital transformation. It demands new ways of approaching education and how organisations think about acquiring talent.

For example, a key success factor is that training today must include ‘hands-on’ learning experiences for students, and the opportunity to work along-side industry experts on real world challenges.

This is what students will have access to during classes which are delivered via IBM Skillsbuild. This is IBM’s free education program offering industry-recognised credentials and helping turn out job-ready talent. The program includes an online component that is complemented by in-person practical group and project-based learning experiences with IBM experts and local industry partners. This ensures students not only acquire knowledge of technology, but also develop “soft skills” and valuable workplace capabilities.

Industry-academic partnerships, like the one IBM has with Infinite Learning, are key to providing deeper, more relevant experiences that will better equip students to enter today’s workforce. Community experts enrich course content and provide a direct connection for learners with real career opportunities. This is why we are focussed on expanding our network of partners every year.

So, in closing, I want to reiterate how excited we are to launch the first IBM Academy for Hybrid Cloud and AI here in Batam with our education partner, Infinite Learning. Through collaborations like this, IBM continues to progress towards its commitment to equip 30 million people globally by 2030 with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.

Thank you.

I will now hand over to the Mayor of Batam, Muhammad Rudi.