Developing human capital goes beyond our employees and involves strategic partnerships between academia and industry. We have been funding research that bolsters food security under our flagship Indofood Riset Nugraha (IRN) program since 1998. In addition, we support the Government by contributing to the Vocational Link and Match program and continue to build on our industry-training curriculum program with Polytechnics (Vocational Program).

Indofood Riset Nugraha
IRN is Indofood’s research grant program for undergraduate students conducting research related to improving national food security as part of their final or thesis work. Through this program, we create opportunities for a diverse selection of students from across the Indonesian archipelago to produce food-related research proposals. Through IRN, students are provided with the opportunity to build their network amongst university students and academics throughout Indonesia. The students also receive training from experts on scientific research methods and on writing scientific journal articles.

Vocational Program
Building partnerships between industry and educational institutes is an important extension of nurturing human talent. Indofood recognizes that vocation-based learning programs complement conventional academic courses by preparing graduates with job-ready industry-specific skills.

Since 2021, we partnered with Polytechnics to co-develop a vocational program centered around flexible packaging. The program involved designing and teaching a new industry-focused curriculum on packaging for polytechnic students in the fourth and fifth semesters, and an internship program in the sixth semester. Industrial site-visits to our CBP Group factories were integrated into the program and key staff participated as guest lecturers. We also started an internship program in our production facilities.

In 2022, the program continued to evolve and we have now standardized the three polytechnic curriculum modules:

• Semester four provides an introduction to flexible packaging and teaches students about occupational health and safety, and good manufacturing practices;
• Semester five is made up of factory visits to our flexible packaging factory, hands-on packaging machinery workshops, and classroom-based seminars on flexible packaging topics; and
• Semester six involves an internship in the flexible packaging operating unit of CBP Group. The internship funding includes transportation allowance and accommodation support, tuition fees for sixth semester, and provision of uniforms.

Rumah Pintar
Through the Smart House (Rumah Pintar or RUMPIN) initiative, our Agribusiness Group provides non-formal learning facilities as part of our commitment to support quality education in remote areas. We have been providing educational resources to people of all ages living in communities around the Company’s plantations.

RUMPINs are run and managed by trained tutors and are equipped with book centers, audio visual equipment, computers, a playground, and an area for handicraft activities like sewing and baking. At RUMPINs, school children receive additional tutoring in subjects such as math and physics, and locals can sell handmade or artisanal products, which can contribute to their financial independence.

It is our hope that with these resources, we are establishing a supportive environment for people to learn, create, gain insights as well as develop an entrepreneurial spirit.