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One Year in Indonesia: Launching DEPI with Purpose
- James Thomas
- May 10
- 6 min read
Updated: May 13
I arrived in Indonesia in June 2024 with a mission: To build something that lasts.
Not just a business. Not a market entry strategy.
But a long-term, locally grounded approach to supporting schools, strengthening systems, and helping trusted EdTech solutions thrive in one of the world’s most complex and high-potential education landscapes.
After four months of listening, building relationships, and navigating the local policy environment, I formally registered DEPI in Bali in October 2024 as PT. Digital Education Partnerships Indonesia.
I chose this name because I wanted it to clearly communicate what I do and how I work:
Digital – because I support scalable, tech-enabled solutions that improve—not replace—teaching, learning and school operations
Education Partnerships – because success in Indonesia comes not through selling, but through collaboration
Indonesia – because this work is rooted here, built with and for the schools, teachers, and systems of this country
Since that moment, it’s been far more than setup—it’s been a year of learning, showing up, building visibility, and leading pilots that have laid the groundwork for scalable change. Through consistent presence and trusted relationships, DEPI has steadily built the momentum needed for long-term impact.
Key Highlights
Over the past 12 months, I’ve grown DEPI from a concept into an active and engaged presence in Indonesia’s education sector:
Secured several global EdTech partners, including TeachUp, Grand Blue Project, and Faria Education Group—with 3–4 more currently pending for the new academic year.
Designed and delivered a 12-school pilot project over 2 months across SPK (international), Yayasan, and Government schools in 3 provinces.
Published an 8-page Impact Report from DEPI’s first Access, Pilot, and Scale partner—highlighting measurable outcomes, engagement analytics, staff testimonials, and actionable next steps for scale-up
Engaged with Ministry of Education officials at national, provincial, and city levels
Built a strong network of school leaders, Yayasan foundation heads, and senior education stakeholders
Secured a local partner to support operational delivery and regional expansion
Delivered speaking engagements at schools, universities, and professional development forums
Attended national education conferences and met with senior stakeholders across both public and private education
Built a small but committed local team, now supporting multiple EdTech clients across Indonesia
A Year on the Ground: What It Took
Since June 2024, I’ve committed to being fully present—not just learning from the sidelines, but working shoulder-to-shoulder with schools, foundations, and MoE stakeholders.
Here’s what that looked like:
Personally visited and engaged with over 50 schools—including government, Yayasan, and SPK (international) schools
Held national-level meetings with MoE leadership in Jakarta, including Prof. Dr. Nunuk Suryani, Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel, and her team
Held provincial leadership meetings with the MoE in Central Java, including presentations to Ibu Heni, Head of BBPMP, and her leadership team
Co-developed pilot strategies with provincial leaders in Central Java for large scale rollout of TeachUp's bilingual safeguarding training to 52,000 schools.
Built trusted relationships with city-level MoE education offices, Yayasan leadership, and school heads
Delivered speaking engagements at schools, universities, and national education forums
Improved my fluency in Bahasa Indonesia to communicate more effectively and build deeper, culturally grounded partnerships
Why I Launched DEPI
Indonesia represents one of the largest and most promising education markets in the world—but also one of the most challenging to navigate.
The scale alone is staggering:
50+ million students
3.5 million teachers
440,000 schools
It’s a decentralised system shaped by local decision-making, layered governance structures, and critical policy mandates like TPPK (Tim Penanganan Perempuan dan Anak Korban Kekerasan), which requires every school to implement a formal child protection structure.
Despite growing demand for digital solutions, most international EdTech companies struggle to gain meaningful traction—not because of product quality, but because of misalignment with how Indonesian schools actually operate.
I launched DEPI because I saw a gap: between global EdTech potential and the realities of school-based implementation. Bridging that gap takes more than a great platform—it takes local insight, cultural fluency, and relationships built on trust.
How DEPI Works
DEPI is not a reseller. It’s not a tech marketplace.
It’s a strategic channel partner and consultancy—built to help trusted EdTech solutions access, pilot, and scale within Indonesia’s complex education system through a model tailored to local realities.
Access
Accessing Indonesia’s education sector requires more than translation or product demos—it requires policy alignment, cultural fluency, and trusted relationships. I help EdTech partners navigate regulatory frameworks, adapt their offerings to the needs of schools and educators, and build credibility with Ministry officials, Yayasan foundations, and school networks. With over a decade of experience in education across Asia—and six years living and working in Indonesia—I bring both the networks and on-the-ground insight needed to open the right doors.
Pilot
Pilots are the foundation of long-term success. As a consultancy, I design and lead implementation-first pilots across diverse school types—SPK, Yayasan, and government—under real operational and policy conditions. Each pilot is structured around clear outcomes, staff training, school leader engagement, and reporting mechanisms that provide measurable impact and build momentum for scale.
Scale
Scaling in Indonesia means working with the system—not around it.
To support large-scale rollout, I’ve developed a streamlined onboarding and payment system for DEPI that enables MoE schools to access approved training and EdTech solutions using their BOS (school operational) budgets—without lengthy procurement delays. This infrastructure is being prepared for the onboarding of 52,000 schools for a partner across Central Java, in close collaboration with provincial leadership. With district-level support, Ministry engagement, and locally embedded implementation teams, DEPI is positioned to drive responsible, policy-aligned scale across the country.
Meeting with the leadership of SMA Tarakanita Gading Serpong, one of the pilot schools in the DEPI x TeachUp safeguarding training project. The school is part of the Tarakanita Foundation—a Christian Yayasan network operating over 60 schools across Java.
Looking Ahead
As DEPI looks ahead to the new academic year in July/August, the focus is on deepening impact, expanding partnerships, and strengthening the systems that make scale possible.
Expanding delivery of client service solutions across DEPI’s existing partners—including onboarding support, localisation, regional rollout planning, and direct coordination with schools and Ministry stakeholders to strengthen adoption and impact
Finalising new EdTech partnerships focused on school operations, CPD, and language learning
Launching a regional onboarding and payment system—starting in Central Java—to enable BOS-funded school participation without central procurement delays
Expanding our local team across sales, marketing, and operations to strengthen DEPI’s on-the-ground presence and provide direct support for school activation and partner implementation across provinces
Supporting MoE and Yayasan leaders with strategic planning, reporting, and case study development to drive long-term adoption
What I’ve Learned
Twelve months in, the most important lessons haven’t come from strategy—they’ve come from schools:
Trust is built by being there, not promising from afar
Local fluency matters just as much as technical fit
Schools want support, alignment, and partnerships—not products
Let’s Connect
If you’re:
A school leader or Yayasan foundation exploring bilingual safeguarding and child protection training, teacher training, or digital tools to improve teaching, learning, and school operations
A Ministry stakeholder seeking scalable, policy-aligned implementation support for national mandates like TPPK
An EdTech company looking to launch or scale a scalable, impact-driven digital tool, training, or resource for schools
An investor looking to support impactful, locally driven innovation in Indonesia’s education sector
Let’s talk.
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