Kominfo teams up with Google to facilitate cloud-based training in Indonesia

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) Indonesia is partnering with Google Cloud to launch a career launchpad initiative that will provide new-to-industry learners with free cloud skills training for entry-level roles. 

These include courses on topics such as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), data analytics, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering, which will be facilitated by a group of 21 higher education partners. The courses aim to reach 8,500 students over the next year. 

A skilled cloud workforce is needed to accelerate and sustain Indonesia's digital transformation, according to Kominfo’s Deputy Minister Nezar Patria. 

"This is why we’re partnering with Google Cloud on its GCC Launchpad, an initiative that enables students at higher education institutions to earn nationally recognised Google Cloud skills credentials at no cost, opening doors to jobs in AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering,” said Nezar in a press release.  

The Deputy Minister added that the collaboration contributes to the Digital Indonesia Vision (VID) 2024, a national strategy to strengthen the country’s digital ecosystem.  

This programme will be available from September 2024 through the Digital Talent Scholarship platform managed by the Ministry of Communication and Information's Human Resource Development Agency (BPSDM). 

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Students to receive Google Cloud credentials 

Google Cloud’s Country Director, Fanly Tanto, said that the growing adoption of enterprise-level GenAI has opened new job opportunities and the demand for skilled cloud talent.  

“GCC Launchpad enables students to earn Google Cloud credentials that unlock job opportunities and rank amongst the highest-paying IT certifications globally.”

Google Cloud Certificates or skills badges will be converted into Kominfo's Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) e-certificates that can be verified in real-time.  

The e-certificate also gives students access to Kominfo's Digital Employment platform, where they can search for and apply for relevant jobs and internship vacancies from local companies.  

Learners can also showcase their Google Cloud Certificates or skills badges on Credly, a global platform for publishing and validating digital credentials.  

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Focus on six areas 

There are six certificates and badges that students can earn via GCC Launchpad. These include certificate programmes covering cloud computing foundations, cloud engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, GenAI skills, and cloud literacy. 

"We hope to engage more higher education institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organisations into this initiative to build a more equitable and inclusive skills-based talent ecosystem, as part of our long-term commitment toward local workforce development and addressing the digital transformation needs of all cities in Indonesia," Fanly said. 

GCC Launchpad initiative expands the collaboration between the Indonesian government and Google to accelerate the country's digital transformation.

Previously, Google Cloud launched a collaboration with the Ministry of Health to support the development of GenAI innovation in the healthcare sector.  

Google has also collaborated with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) to provide cybersecurity training and AI-powered cybersecurity tools to protect the public sector from cybercrime and malicious cyber-attacks.