Jakarta. As Indonesia looks toward achieving its “Indonesia Emas 2045” vision, two pressing challenges continue to emerge: the growing number of unemployed university graduates and the readiness of the country’s youth to take on leadership roles.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the national open unemployment rate (TPT) stood at 4.76 percent as of February 2025, representing 7.28 million unemployed individuals. Notably, unemployment among university graduates reached 5.25 percent, signaling a disconnect between higher education outcomes and the demands of the labor market.

This trend underscores that academic qualifications alone are no longer sufficient. Graduates must be equipped not only with technical expertise but also with soft skills, leadership capabilities, the ability to collaborate, and a deep sense of social responsibility—especially in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

Building Future Leaders: TELADAN by Tanoto Foundation

To address these challenges, the Tanoto Foundation—a philanthropic organization established by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981—continues to invest in youth leadership through its flagship program, TELADAN (Transformational Education for Leadership and Development of Future Leaders).

More Than a Scholarship

The TELADAN program offers undergraduate scholarships to students from ten partner universities. Beyond financial support, TELADAN provides a structured leadership development journey from the second to eighth semesters, aimed at sharpening both leadership and interpersonal skills. Recipients are known as Tanoto Scholars.

Tanoto Scholars Gathering 2025: Learn and Lead

A key element of the TELADAN journey is the annual Tanoto Scholars Gathering (TSG)—a national forum for Tanoto Scholars to build connections, learn from experts, and strengthen their leadership mindset.

Held from July 24–26, 2025, at the RAPP Complex in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, this year’s event brought together 291 scholars from partner institutions including IPB University, Diponegoro University, Gadjah Mada University, and others.

Benny Lee, CEO of Tanoto Foundation, opened the event with a call to lead by example

“In line with this year’s theme, Becoming the Champion of Good, each Tanoto Scholar should strive to be a role model. This is the legacy of our founders—to create a positive, lasting impact,” he said. “As future leaders, you carry the responsibility to inspire others and drive progress in society.”

Eduward Ginting, COO of RAPP, echoed this message. “Tanoto Scholars have passed a rigorous selection process. You are not just representatives of your universities—you are future changemakers for the nation.”

Voices from National Leaders

The three-day event featured inspirational talks from leading figures:

Veronica Tan, Deputy Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, encouraged scholars to build their inner foundation:

“Feed yourself with positive environments, meaningful conversations, and useful content. Intelligence matters—but conscience matters more. Intellect without integrity is meaningless.”

Prof. Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, reminded students to maximize their university experience:

“This is your golden time. Build your character and vision. Success demands more than intelligence—it requires perseverance, planning, and purpose.”

He shared 12 traits for success, including imagination, decisiveness, collaboration, and intuition.

Angkie Yudistia, CEO of Thisable Enterprise, shared her journey of overcoming hearing loss to become a sociopreneur:

“Your challenges can become your strength. Be empathetic, self-aware, and committed to collaboration and equity.”

Experiential Learning in Sustainability

With the theme “Learn & Lead: Becoming the Champion of Good,” TSG 2025 emphasized sustainability and impactful leadership. Activities included:

• Site visits to RGE Group business units to understand sustainable industry practices

• Leadership workshops focused on problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience

• Talks by academics, policymakers, and public figures

The goal: to shape well-rounded leaders ready to create real change.

TELADAN 2026 Registration Now Open

Registration for the TELADAN Scholarship Program is open from July 1 to September 7, 2025, for first-semester students at Tanoto Foundation’s ten partner universities.

In addition to scholarship support and leadership training, recipients gain access to:

• Financial support for competitions, certifications, and conferences (domestic and international)

• Opportunities for summer programs, student exchanges, and volunteer work

• Internships within the Tanoto Foundation’s industry network

• Research funding and collaboration opportunities

• Membership in the Tanoto Foundation’s global alumni network

KIP-K (Smart Indonesia College Card) holders enrolled at partner universities are also eligible.

For more information and registration: bit.ly/JadiTELADAN2026

Since its inception in 2006 untill 2024, the Tanoto Foundation scholarship program has supported 8,559 students across Indonesia.

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