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Politeknik Negeri Jember (Polije) continues to strengthen its strategic role in supporting the development of vocational education in Indonesia through international cooperation. To deepen this partnership, Polije together with a delegation of SECO (Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) and SS4C (Swiss Skills for Competitiveness) visited PT Mitra Tani Dua Tujuh, Jember. The visit, which took place on Thursday (17/10), aimed to evaluate and discuss the development of staff, institutions, and curricula in accordance with the needs of modern industry.
The visit was attended by various important stakeholders, including Agung Wahyono, S.P., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Director for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems of Polije. In his speech, Agung expressed his appreciation for the presence of the SECO and SS4C delegations. He emphasized that this international partnership has had a significant impact in improving the quality of vocational education at Polije since the launch of the S4C project in 2018.
“We are very grateful for this visit. Since the S4C project began in 2018, Polije has grown rapidly, both in terms of staff, institutional, and curriculum development. We have succeeded in bringing two study programs to Polije to get Dacum international certification, an achievement that we are proud of,” Agung said in his speech.
One of the things Agung highlighted was the contribution of PT Mitra Tani Dua Tujuh in curriculum development at Polije. One of the staff from the company, which also plays an important role in the development of local industries, pioneered the development of a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of the industrial sector. This is expected to become a model for other vocational programs in Indonesia in bridging the needs of the business world with the world of education.
“We believe that close collaboration between vocational education and the industrial sector is key to creating a competent workforce that meets market demands. Therefore, this visit is not only a place to share experiences, but also a moment to see first-hand the results of the S4C project at Polije and how this collaboration can be further strengthened in the future,” Agung continued.
Tumbas Ginting, Director of PT Mitra Tani Dua Tujuh, which hosted the visit, expressed his gratitude and hope for the continued cooperation between Polije, the Swiss Government, and PT Mitra Tani. He emphasized the importance of modernizing equipment and improving human resources (HR) as part of efforts to support local industrial growth and global competitiveness.
“We are very open to various forms of cooperation in the future, especially in terms of modernizing technology and improving the quality of human resources at PT Mitra Tani Dua Tujuh. In addition, we hope that through the partnership with the Swiss Government, we can expand our market and take advantage of greater opportunities in the international market,” said Tumbas Ginting.
Meanwhile, Jonas Gruder, Program Manager Private Sector Development SECO, gave special appreciation to Polije for its efforts in integrating the world of education with the industrial sector. According to him, Polije has become a successful example of how vocational education can make a real contribution to industrial needs.
“We are very impressed with the efforts that Polije has made. Their initiative in bridging industry needs with students is an example that should be emulated by other vocational institutions in Indonesia. We hope that the experience from this SS4C project can continue to be shared and implemented in various regions,” said Jonas Gruder.
Jonas also expressed his confidence that the SS4C project will continue to have a positive impact on the development of vocational education in Indonesia. With the support of the Swiss Government and close collaboration with the industry sector.
“It is hoped that this project can create graduates who not only have qualified technical skills but are also ready to face challenges in the global job market,” he continued.
SECO and SS4C delegates who attended the visit included Nikolaus Gyarmati as Legal Advisor, Muhammad Halil Rahim as Nation Program Officer SECO Economic Cooperation and Development Indonesia, as well as Daniel Weibel and Benaya Jaya as representatives from SS4C.
The visit is expected to continue to be a strong commitment from all parties to continue to strengthen the synergy between the world of education and industry. With the modernization of facilities, improvement of curriculum quality, and support from international partners, Polije hopes to become one of the leading vocational education institutions in Indonesia that produces highly competitive graduates who are ready to face global challenges. (rda)