"Renewable energy and vocational education are two important areas in need of development in Indonesia. Switzerland is a leading country in both sectors," Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie noted in a statement on Tuesday.
In addition to cooperation on renewable energy, Christie noted that Indonesia could adopt several elements of Swiss vocational education, including private sector engagement in developing vocational training.
"Private sector involvement can be achieved through various channels, such as through higher education institutions, the Swiss-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce (SwissCham), and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN)," she remarked.
Through this collaboration, graduates and lecturers participating in the program will receive official recognition in Switzerland or the European Union, Christie remarked.
"Switzerland is an important partner for many reasons. Therefore, we are eager to improve the Indonesian public's perception of vocational education and encourage the industry to engage closely with vocational higher education institutions," the deputy minister explained.
In response to this, Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Olivier Zehnder emphasized the importance of focusing on developing young talent to prepare them for the workforce.
Zehnder believes this collaboration may open wider opportunities, such as joint research projects between polytechnics in Indonesia and Swiss universities of applied sciences.
"We are committed to helping young talent pursue degrees to improve their employment prospects," he noted in the same statement.
The Swiss Embassy also outlined its flagship vocational initiative in Indonesia, namely the Renewable Energy Skills Development (RESD) program.
Entering its fourth year, this program partners with five Indonesian polytechnics specializing in sustainable energy areas, including solar photovoltaic (PV), hydropower, and battery technology.
To support President Prabowo Subianto's priority programs, the Embassy announced plans to extend RESD by including five polytechnics, focusing on PV and battery technologies.
Furthermore, both parties discussed cooperation frameworks. Pending the renewal of the memorandum of understanding, Indonesia and Switzerland will draft a cooperation agreement to ensure the program's swift implementation.
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Translator: Sean Filo M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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