Public Lecture at IPB University, Menaker: Students Are Not Sufficiently Equipped with Diplomas

Indonesian Minister of Manpower (Menaker), Prof Yassierli, said that the young generation, especially university students, is the main key in building the nation’s competitiveness.

“It is not enough for college graduates to only have a diploma, but they must be equipped with skills, work ethic, and a high adaptive spirit”, he said when giving a public lecture at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB Dramaga Campus (4/14).

For this reason, he added, the Ministry of Manpower initiated a program namely the Revitalization of the Vocational Training Center (BLK). The revitalization of BLK is done through the Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach. This means that trainees not only receive material in class, but also direct internships in industry.

The program focuses on developing foundational job skills, strengthening technological literacy such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and mastering future skills based on priority sector needs.

“BLK will be the motor of future skills training, with more than 300 government BLK units ready to function as the main facilitator,” he said.

Another important initiative is the preparation of the Employment Outlook, which is a projection of labor needs based on the sector and skills needed.

Prof Yassierli hopes that this outlook will become a guideline in preparing the education curriculum in vocational schools, polytechnics, and universities to be more relevant to industrial developments.

“The curriculum must be adaptive and responsive to the transformation of the world of work. With the Employment Outlook, we can anticipate new types of jobs that will emerge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Rector of IPB University for Education and Student Affairs, Prof Deni Noviana said that the current employment conditions in Indonesia are complex and dynamic. This is influenced by national and global factors that continue to change.

“The number of labor force is currently around 147 million people, with a participation rate of 69 percent. This situation is strongly influenced by economic growth, government policies, technological developments, and global conditions,” he said.

Prof Deni explained that reindustrialization is still an important agenda in national development. Therefore, the quality of the workforce must be prepared to be able to answer the needs of the industry.

“The largest distribution of labor is still in the agricultural sector at large, which is around 28 percent. However, big challenges arise from the low level of education and limited skills,” he said.

Prof Deni said that IPB University is committed to producing graduates who are not only academically smart, but also adaptive and have leadership spirit.

“We strengthen the outcome-based curriculum, build teaching factories, expand entrepreneurship and apprenticeship programs,” he said. (dr) (IAAS/LAN)