The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Improving the Quality of the Graduates: Universities towards Industrial Revolution 4.0

Abstract

This study employed a phenomenological approach of a qualitative research design. For this study, the researcher interviewed Human Resources Department leaders in national private companies in Jakarta and foreign companies or international bodies to gain information about the quality of university graduates in Indonesia.The researcher also interviewed chancellors of private tertiary institutions to gather information about what efforts the university is making in order to prepare qualified scholars to fit the demands of IR 4.0. In order to make this research more objective, the researcher also interviewed students from private tertiary institutions to explore information about their experiences in attending university and whether there were special courses or programs given by the university in order to improve student competency. The research proved that higher education instituition plays a significant role in improving the quality of the university graduates in facing the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Further analysis indicated that there was a gap between higher education outcomes and the demands of competence in the world of work. There are still universities which haven’t implemented the program even though the curriculum has been modified and up to the present time, most of universities are still prioritizing hard skills compared to the students’ soft skill. This study provides insights on the importance of higher institutions institutions to improve the quality of the graduates to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of having and not having soft skills competencies in the global era and offers recommendations for future research.