POLIJE and GIZ Explore Initial Steps for Future Collaborative Programs

Politeknik Negeri Jember (POLIJE) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) held a coordination meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, marking the continuation of earlier discussions between both parties. The meeting served as an initial step toward establishing future collaborative programs in education, research, and institutional development.

Representatives from GIZ and POLIJE exchanged ideas on potential cooperation frameworks that align with both institutions’ shared goals in advancing vocational education and applied research. The discussion focused on identifying practical areas where collaboration could have a meaningful impact, particularly in strengthening sustainable development and innovation in agricultural technology.

This meeting was initiated as a follow-up to prior dialogues that explored the possibility of integrating German expertise in vocational and technical education with POLIJE’s applied learning ecosystem. Both parties expressed enthusiasm for developing joint initiatives that support institutional capacity building, staff training, and student empowerment.

During the session, GIZ emphasized that this initial meeting serves as a starting point for a structured partnership roadmap. Future meetings will involve detailed presentations on the scope and potential forms of collaboration that can be implemented with POLIJE.

POLIJE, on the other hand, expressed its readiness to collaborate in programs that focus on renewable energy, agrotechnology, and digital transformation in vocational education—areas that align with GIZ’s global priorities and expertise. The institution also welcomed opportunities to involve German partner universities and industries to enhance the quality of learning and innovation.

One of the next steps agreed upon in the meeting is the inclusion of Technical University of Dresden in the upcoming session. The presence of the university is expected to enrich discussions with technical insights and provide academic support in designing collaborative research and exchange programs.

Both GIZ and POLIJE acknowledged that international cooperation plays a vital role in addressing future challenges in vocational education, particularly in equipping students with 21st-century competencies. By leveraging GIZ’s extensive experience and POLIJE’s practical approach, the partnership aims to create sustainable and scalable educational models.

The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding that this collaboration will continue to develop through regular communication and follow-up discussions. The next meeting is expected to define concrete programs and partnership mechanisms that will contribute to advancing POLIJE’s vision as a Leading Polytechnic in Agrotechnotropics with ASEAN Competitiveness.