Human Resources Capacity Building Becomes the Current Government Priority Policy

INDUSTRY.co.id - Yogyakarta - Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Haris Munandar, said that the improvement of human resource capacity has become one of the government's priority policies in encouraging the distribution of national economy after infrastructure development.

"To create skilled human resources, it is necessary to strengthen the education system, one of them is through vocational education," said Haris Munandar on Talkshow in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of SMK SMTI Yogyakarta (16/12/2017).

Based on World Bank research results last October, Indonesia took 45 years to catch up in the field of education and takes 75 years to catch up in the field of science (science).

"To spur industrial and economic growth, three main factors are needed, namely investment, technology and human resources," he said.

The availability of competent Industrial Human Resources is believed to boost productivity and make industry more competitive. The industrial sector is also expected to increase the added value and welfare of society and prevent Indonesia from middle income trap.

Haris added that in addition to the link and match program between SMK and industry, it is committed to continue to create a competent workforce in accordance with the needs of the industrial world which is generated from a number of vocational education units within the Ministry of Industry. Currently, the Ministry of Industry has obtained a recommendation from the Ministry of Technology and Higher Education to build eight polytechnics.

"The practice equipment in our schools is amazingly good because we strive to be at the same level with the equipment used in the industry and one tool for one student during the practice, and to have workshops, laboratories and teaching factories that fit the industry," he said.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry also implements the standards to make the target schools capable of excellence. First, it is encouraged to pass students with a good final exam score. Second, students are equipped with certificates of competence of specific skills to be applied in the industry.

Furthermore, schools work with local educational institutions to grant foreign language certificates to their graduates. "The school also helps in recruiting the work of its graduates," added Haris.

The secretary general said that in order to develop an industry vocational education, the Ministry of Industry will send SMK teachers in the Ministry of Industry to attend internships in the next year, for example to the Institute of Technical Education in Singapore and Formosa Training Center Taiwan.

"Furthermore, it will also employ silver experts, ie experts who have worked in industry, to train teachers and students in SMK," he added.

Meanwhile, Head of Industrial Training Center (Pusdiklat), Mujiyono explained, there are three stages of vocational education. First, conventional schools that have not been market-oriented.

Secondly, schools that have link and match with the industry so that the curriculum stay to adjust to the needs of the industry. And, the third is a school that implements dual system, with learning activities in schools and practices in a balanced industry.

"This is a common model in Europe, especially Germany, and we are trying to get there," he concluded.