Higher education expected to develop industrial HR, Minister says

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Industry Minister Airlangga Hartanto expected education sector, especially higher education, could contribute to the development of human resources (HR). He added the HR should be able to innovate using technology to support the industrial development.

He said today’s higher education challenge is to support the development of skilled human resources with specific expertise needed by the job market.

"I hope the engineering colleges can contribute to the Indonesia’s economic development, especially in the development of technology that can support the economy and the national industry in particular," said Minister Airlangga in his scientific speech at Bandung Institute of Technology, Saturday (8/20).

Besides supporting the universities, the government is actively encouraging the industries to establish technical colleges, such as textile and automotive colleges that have been implemented.

“The dual-system education program is driven to become the private or state-owned enterprises industries’ movement. For the curriculum, we will coordinate with Manpower Ministry and Education and Culture Ministry,” he said.

In fact, industry development is not always dependent on the availability of natural resources of a country.

Some advanced industrial countries even have limited natural resources, but they are able to optimize the science, engineering or technology to support industrial development.

Therefore, he said, synergy between businesses and universities should also be encouraged in order to set up vocational education institutions, especially in the industrial areas in accordance with each region’s potentials.

The contribution of education to the development of the industrial sector is realized through the development of human resources and education system as well as the growth of entrepreneurship.

Industry Ministry aims to produce 200,000 Small and Medium Industries (SMI) entrepreneurs as one of the vital industry pillars.

SMI becomes domestic industry’s important pillar because it contributes 34.82 percent of the whole industry. (Translator: Erik Limantara)