MEDAN (ISL News) - Pelindo Solusi Digital (PSD) is strengthening its contribution to developing future digital talent through the PSD Goes to Campus program at the Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Engineering, University of North Sumatra (USU). This event provides a platform for sharing insights on the changing landscape of the workforce, competency needs in the era of artificial intelligence ( AI), and the role of the younger generation in supporting the transformation of Indonesia's maritime industry and ecosystem.
In a public lecture entitled "Becoming a T-Shaped Generalist: Mastering Model-Based Thinking in the AI Era," President Director of Pelindo Solusi Digital and USU Industrial Engineering alumnus, Natal Iman Ginting, invited students to prepare themselves to face the increasingly dynamic, connected, and technology-based world of work.
The development of AI has transformed the way companies conduct business processes and make decisions. Routine, repetitive, and rule-based tasks are increasingly being performed with the help of technology. Amidst these changes, humans still possess the advantage of understanding broader contexts, thinking strategically, building empathy, communicating, and connecting various problems into coherent solutions.
"In the AI era, students aren't just good at mastering a single technical skill. They need to possess cross-disciplinary insights, critical thinking skills, and in-depth expertise that can add value. Technology can process data quickly, but humans are still needed to connect strategy, technology, business processes, and societal needs," said Natal.
According to Natal, one competency profile relevant to these needs is the T-shaped talent, which refers to individuals who possess broad insight across multiple disciplines while also possessing in-depth mastery of one or two areas. This profile enables individuals to collaborate across multiple functions, understand issues holistically, and maintain reliable specialized expertise.
This approach is particularly relevant for Industrial Engineering students because the field combines an understanding of people, processes, technology, organizations, and systems. Students are encouraged to view a problem not only from an operational perspective but also to understand its relationship to company strategy, supply chains, organizational culture, technological developments, and changing user needs.
On that occasion, Natal also introduced the concept of model-based thinking, the ability to develop structured thinking when dealing with complex problems. Through this approach, students can map problems, identify root causes, design alternative solutions, conduct simulations, and continuously evaluate the results.
This holistic thinking ability is becoming increasingly important with the development of technologies such as AI, data analytics, and digital twins . Technology can help organizations create digital representations of a process or system so that various scenarios can be studied before decisions are implemented in the field. However, its successful use still relies on human ability to formulate appropriate problems, critically analyze data, and translate analytical results into business decisions.
To illustrate its application in the maritime industry, Pelindo Solusi Digital also introduced Adhara, a maritime logistics ecosystem platform developed to foster connectivity and collaboration among actors in the service chain. The ecosystem involves goods owners, shipping companies, ports and terminals, transportation companies, depots, warehouses, logistics service providers, as well as government agencies and regulators.
Through better process integration and data exchange, Adhara aims to support comprehensive service visibility, simplify interactions between stakeholders, reduce redundancy, and promote more effective logistics operations. This platform exemplifies how technology doesn't stand alone but acts as a bridge that strengthens collaboration within an ecosystem.
"Digital transformation isn't just about replacing manual processes with applications. Its greatest value arises when technology can connect various actors, align processes, and deliver better decisions. Therefore, Indonesia needs talent who can see the system holistically and lead change, not just be technical implementers," Natal explained.
For Industrial Engineering students, the maritime and logistics ecosystem offers a broad scope for contribution, ranging from process design and supply chain optimization, data analysis, digital product development, project management, and organizational change management. These competencies can serve as the foundation for developing various innovations that concretely address industry needs.
In addition to academic ability, students are also encouraged to develop curiosity, a strong desire to learn, empathy, communication skills, and the courage to test ideas through real-world projects. The ability to accept feedback, evaluate errors based on data, and continuously improve are considered essential traits for future leaders.
Natal summarizes the readiness of future talent through three key elements: head, heart, and hands. Head represents the ability to reason, think critically, and understand fundamental principles. Heart reflects curiosity, empathy, and the ability to understand the needs of others. Meanwhile, hands demonstrate the courage to build, test, and implement real-world solutions.
Through PSD Goes to Campus, Pelindo Solusi Digital seeks to bring students closer to current developments in the industrial world while broadening their understanding of the competencies needed for digital transformation. This program also serves as part of an effort to build closer relationships between universities and industry to develop adaptive, collaborative talent ready to meet future challenges.
Pelindo Solusi Digital believes that collaboration between education and industry is a crucial foundation for strengthening Indonesia's competitiveness. By expanding the exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas, students are expected to not only be prepared to enter the workforce but also become drivers of innovation and system leaders that impact industry, society, and the national economy.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom Pelindo Digital Solutions).
