"In vocational education, lecturers should demonstrate their competence. It is not enough for them to hold only a diploma to teach, but they should have a competency that has been certified based on their expertise," Nasir said during a seminar on Revitalizing Vocational Education in Indonesia: Implementation of Dual System Learning at Prasetya Mulya University here on Wednesday.
The minister added that the ministry would send lecturers teaching vocational programs abroad to obtain an international standard competency certificate. Those who have a chance to study abroad should meet the English skills requirement.
Meanwhile, lecturers who have constraints with regard to language could be trained in domestic polytechnics. On the other hand, the ministry will accept vocational education experts from abroad.
Nasir added that the competency certification program for students has been going on since 2017, in which vocational students undergo a two-year lecture program in Indonesia and two years abroad. At the end of the program, they receive a certificate of competence.
"Vocational graduates are not asked for their diplomas, but their competency certificates," he said.
Meanwhile, Sinar Mas Managing Director, G Sulistiyanto, stressed that revitalized vocational education was important to provide students with the education and skills programs needed by the industrial world.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland, Muliaman Darmansyah Hadad, said the issue of vocational education was less attractive to the industry and the society, and it is not only in Indonesia, but in other countries as well.
"Vocational education in several countries is the second choice," Hadad said.
Therefore, he hoped there would be synergy between universities and the industrial world to ensure vocational education graduates were absorbed by the industry.
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Translator: Bambang Purwanto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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