The Ministry's Director General of Vocational Education, Kiki Yuliati, stated that this activity aims to develop a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Program in various countries in ASEAN.
"This activity aims to connect educational institutions with the world of work as well as an effort to produce equal quality graduates," Yuliati noted in Batam on Tuesday.
The international conference was attended by 70 participants representing seven ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
According to Yuliati, the ministry is also striving to bridge various vocational education institutions with the world of work at the international level. This aims to increase the assets and quality of TVET in ASEAN countries and to create collaboration between countries.
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She explained that Batam City was chosen to host the activity because apart from being part of Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN 2023, this city was considered suitable to be a representative model of cooperation or collaboration between vocational education institutions and industry, for instance, at the Batam Polytechnic.
Yuliati noted that currently, the government is focusing on encouraging quality improvement and the role of vocational schools to support educational needs in society as well as supporting economic development in Indonesia.
"In Batam, so far, there has been collaboration between vocational education and the business or industry sector. Moreover, Batam's economic growth is very good, and we hope that human resources from vocational schools can help to contribute," she remarked.
She also expressed optimism that vocational education, through vocational high schools (SMK), tertiary institutions, polytechnics, and course institutions, can prepare human resources in Indonesia, especially Batam, to welcome further cooperation with businesses or industries in foreign countries.
"Hopefully, the mobility of people, business, and industry in various countries in ASEAN will develop," she stated.
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Translator: Ilham Yude P, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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