Dual vocational education in IndonesiaCompanies in developing countries depend on a highly trained workforce in order to remain competitive in a globalised economic environment.
A skilled workforce will help companies to grow and create more jobs and economic opportunities, so people do not see themselves forced to emigrate. This is why SECO is involved in the training and further education of skilled workers in higher vocational education.
Indonesia has become a major player on the world stage. It is the fourth largest population in the world and the 10th largest economy and is a member of the G20. In the years between 1999 and 2016, Indonesia managed to halve the percentage of impoverished people in the overall population to around 11 percent. 28 million Indonesians, however, still live below the poverty line and 40 percent of the population are at risk of falling back into poverty.
One of the greatest challenges facing Indonesia is the structure of the labour market. On the one hand, 1.7 million young people enter the workforce every year and find there are not enough jobs. On the other hand, the national educational system does not produce enough workers that possess the skills required by the economy. The logical consequence is a shortage of skilled workers.
In light of this, Indonesian authorities have asked Switzerland for its support. SECO thus launched the project Skills for Competitiveness. Together with the private sector and the authorities, SECO supports five Indonesian technical colleges in the fields of metal, wood and food processing set up a dual vocational education and training system.
Skills for Competitiveness supports the polytechnics in improving their training programmes. Together with experts from the industry, schools develop new curricula, which ensure that technicians and engineers obtain the skills companies need. The project also aims to reinforce teaching staff capacity. More and improved internships align the training programmes more closely with the needs of the industry. To date, the programme has conducted 85 workshops and trainings with over one hundred partners from the industry, benefiting around 800 students and teachers.
«I improved my technical skills during an internship in an industrial company. I learned how to tackle problems with a solution-oriented approach and how to take responsibility within a team. And the allowance relieves my parents’ budget!»
Subhan Ali, Student at the Morowali Polytechnic, Central Sulawesi
Market-oriented skills
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Dual vocational education in Indonesia
