Based on the results of a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, USA, in 2002 (surveying 457 executives), it turns out that the Grade Point Average (GPA) is not considered important in the world of work. What is far more important are soft skills, including communication skills, honesty and cooperation, motivation, adaptability, other interpersonal competencies, with a value orientation that upholds effective performance.
In response to the above, Widyatama University, as one of the leading private universities in West Java, is ready to meet the demands of the workplace by linking up with industry as a user of graduates. Widyatama University strives to produce graduates who are capable of competitive behavior.
Considering that the direction of Widyatama graduate development is not only focused on the ability to fill labor needs but also on ‘entrepreneurial’ and ‘private enterprise’ skills, as an implementation of this orientation, Widyatama University will develop other intangible quality indicators that are highly necessary in the world of work, known as ‘soft skills’.
To gain a deeper understanding of the soft skills that are prioritized in Indonesian industries, Widyatama University will hold a discussion on the theme “The Relevance of Soft Skills to the Needs of the Workplace” on Saturday, May 26, 2007, in the Seminar Room on the 6th floor of Graha Widyatama, Jalan Cikutra, Bandung. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ichsan S Putra, followed by other speakers, including Rully Setiawan, S.E. (Bank Mandiri), Helmi Wahidi, S.E., M.Si (Telkomsel), Sonny Gunawan, S.E. (Yogya Dept. Store), Bambang Budi Tresno, S.E., Ak. (Bambang Budi Tresno Accounting Office), Femi Ismayawati, S.E., M.M. (Pak Chi Met), and Aep Mulyana, S.E (dloops).
According to the chair of the discussion, Dr. Nina Nurani, S.H., M.Si, the purpose of this discussion was to facilitate Widyatama University, industry (users), and lecturers to sit together and formulate the soft skills that are a priority in the world of work.
Nina explained in more detail that the objectives of this discussion included detecting signs of change occurring in industries that employ graduates and obtaining accurate information about industry needs from university graduates. Equally important was obtaining information about the soft skills that are a priority for industry in line with work requirements, as well as connecting academics with practitioners regarding the competencies of university graduates in the world of work.
Meanwhile, changes in the era of globalization have led to paradigm shifts in the fields of economics and education. Currently, organizations have shifted to a network-based model, focusing on customers and information. Meanwhile, education has also changed from Old Industrial Education to New Entrepreneurial Education. Several changes in the educational paradigm include a shift from a focus on content, lecturer-centered learning, lecturers acting as experts, and an emphasis on theory to a focus on process, student-centered learning, lecturers acting as facilitators, and an emphasis on how to solve problems.
The Directorate General of Higher Education has anticipated these changes by developing a long-term strategy for higher education (HELTS) for 2003-2010. This long-term strategy has established three basic policies that have become the foundation for every university to move towards higher quality. Through autonomy, it is hoped that higher education institutions can regulate themselves, determine the direction and policies to achieve the objectives that have been set in order to become healthy higher education institutions and gradually be able to compete in global competition through the excellence of human resources, research results, and other findings. In order to improve the nation’s competitiveness, the quality of student resources must be improved, so that graduates become competent. Competent graduates are not only capable of mastering knowledge and technology in their fields but also possess soft skills.***
