The programs can improve the quality of our polytechnic colleges. Through the programs, we can cooperate in developing their curriculum since technical skill alone is not enough
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government, through the Education and Culture Ministry, has agreed to cooperate with the United Kingdom (UK) in supporting the development of human resources in the maritime sector. "The cooperation is aimed at supporting a maritime polytechnic university offering several unique programs," Director General of Learning and Student Affairs of the Education and Culture Ministry Prof Ismunandar said in a written statement released Wednesday.

The scope of the cooperation covers logistics, sailor's skills, port management and maritime-based economy.

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Through the cooperation the UK will make available £8 million (or Rp145 billion) to support the development of maritime polytechnic colleges in Batam, Manado, Semarang and Surabaya.

The support for the curriculum of the polytechnic colleges is aimed at improving the quality of these colleges, Ismunandar said.

"The programs can improve the quality of our polytechnic colleges. Through the programs, we can cooperate in developing their curriculum since technical skill alone is not enough," he said.

The cooperation will support the development of Indonesian human resources for sustainable development, said the United Kingdom Ambassador to Indonesia and non-resident Ambassador to Timor Leste, Owen Jenkins.

"We will conduct sustainable development-based cooperation, with the potential of Indonesia as the world's fourth-largest populated country," Jenkins said.

The support will focus on providing the skill to polytechnic colleges to meet the needs of the 21st century, he said.

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Translator: Indriani/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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