Yogyakarta, June 5, 2025 – The Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness successfully hosted a Guest Lecture on Human Resource Management (HRM) at the MMA Auditorium, Building A.10 Sosek, 3rd Floor. The lecture, themed “Human Resource Management at PTPN IV: Opportunities and Challenges in Managing Gen Z,” featured Dr. R. Turino Januar Budyanto, A.Md, SE., M.Psi., as the Head of the HR Policy and Development Division at PTPN IV PalmCo, who is also an experienced academic and practitioner in the field of human resource management.
During the guest lecture, Dr. Turino explained how the transformation of PTPN IV as a subholding of PalmCo has driven strategic renewal of the human resource management system. The primary focus was on the challenges and strategies in dealing with Generation Z (Gen Z) in the workplace, a generation born and raised in the digital age.
Through a SWOT analysis, the strengths of Gen Z were highlighted, such as technological proficiency, creativity, quick learning ability, and high adaptability. However, Gen Z also faces challenges such as technology dependency, the need for constant feedback, and a tendency toward multitasking that is not always productive. Therefore, relevant management strategies include:
- Implementing flexible working (hybrid/remote)
- Building a culture of constructive feedback
- Encouraging rapid career development
- Managing expectations and work-life balance
- Implementing time management techniques to support work focus
This material not only provides practical insights from the world of state-owned plantation corporations (BUMN) but also invites students to understand the dynamics of cross-generational human resource management in the context of industrial and social change.
This guest lecture has strong relevance to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4: Quality Education, through the provision of direct professional insights from the world of work. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, emphasizing the importance of adaptive human resource management in response to demographic and technological changes. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, through inclusive strategies in the development of young people in the workplace. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as human resource technology and innovation are key to the competitiveness of modern organizations like PTPN IV.
Through this guest lecture, it is hoped that students will be able to understand the importance of adapting HR management strategies to the characteristics of the new generation and see organizational transformation as an opportunity for career advancement and strategic contribution. Students are also expected to be better prepared to become part of a future generation of innovative, resilient workers and leaders who are capable of responding to the challenges of changing times.
Author : Aprilia Dwi Hastuti
Admin of the Website for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM