Pearson Launches AI Readiness Report in Jakarta

On 4 July, UKABC partner Pearson, together with Amazon Web Services (AWS), launched its AI Readiness Report at the Pearson Higher Education Forum in Jakarta, themed "Ready for What's Next: From Learning to Earning in the Age of AI." Held at the JW Marriott Hotel, the forum drew a packed conference hall of Indonesia's senior education leaders.

The report, AI Readiness: Building the Bridge from Higher Education to Work, surveyed more than 2,700 students, educators, and employers across six countries. Its headline finding: over half of employers worldwide say they cannot find graduates with the AI skills they need, even as most university leaders believe they are meeting employer expectations — a disconnect Pearson traces to six recurring friction points, from curriculum pace to workplace-ready experience.

Speaking at the launch, Craig McFarlane, Pearson's Enterprise Learning and Skills Leader for APAC, said employers are shifting from credential-based hiring toward skills-based recruitment, with adaptability now as valuable as technical knowledge.  The forum also featured Keziah McConnell, First Secretary of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy Jakarta, alongside AWS Country Manager Indonesia Anthony Amni.

The report is the first in a series, with country-level editions and a Southeast Asia report to follow.

Read the full AI Readiness Report at pearson.com/power-of-learning/ai-readiness.