Depok-Universitas Indonesia (UI) Vocational Education Program held a meeting with the Directorate General of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology regarding the design of the development and internationalization of vocational education programs in Indonesia, on Friday (23/06). The meeting was attended by the Director General of Vocational Education, Dr. Ir. Kiki Yuliati M.Sc.; Academic Director of Vocational Higher Education, Dr. Beny Bandanadjaja, S.T., M.T., and was welcomed by UI Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, M.Sc., at the University Administration Center, UI Depok Campus, West Java.
Prof. Haris in his remarks said that the Vocational Education Program is a level of vocational education at UI which was officially established in 2008. According to him, vocational education is expected to be more attractive and become a mainstay for prospective students in tertiary institutions. “We hope that this meeting with the Director General of Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Culture can introduce in depth about vocational education, as well as the branding that needs to be done so that it becomes something interesting for school students,” said Prof. Harris.
(Photo: Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs UI, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, M.Sc., in his speech)
Also present along with Prof. Haris, Head of the UI Academic Quality Assurance Agency, Prof. Sri Hartati Dewi Reksodiputro, Ph.D; UI Director of Education, Dr. Ir. Anak Agung Putri Ratna, M.Eng.; UI Director of Student Affairs, Dr. Badrul Munir, ST., M.Eng.; Head of Center for Independent Learning UI, Francis Astha Ekadiyanto, S.T., M.Sc.; Head of the UI New Student Admissions Office, Dr. Gunawan, S.T., M.T.; UI Vocational Vice Director for Education, Research and Student Affairs, Deni Danial Kesa, MBA., Ph.D; UI Vocational Vice Director for Resources, Ventures, and General Administration, Priyanto, S.S., M.Hum.; UI Vocational Program Secretary, Dyah Safitri, S.IPI, M.Hum.; as well as UI Vocational lecturers and students.
In the meeting, Dr. Ir. Kiki said that one of the challenges facing Indonesia was the decreasing number of workers of productive age to bear the burden of public service financing. In addition, the quality of the workforce in Indonesia is still very weak compared to the complexity of current and future job challenges. According to her, quality vocational education can be a strategy and opportunity for Indonesia to overcome these challenges.
(Photo: Director General of Vocational Education, Dr. Ir. Kiki Yuliati, M.Sc., in a meeting with the Universitas Indonesia)
She added, the characteristics of vocational education are structured but flexible, contemporary, affordable, and have easier accessibility. “Vocational education learning approaches with link and match schemes and work-based learning are starting to be echoed by various vocational education providers in Indonesia to encourage educational transformation,” said Dr. Ir. Kiki.
It is in line with the programs run by the Directorate General of Vocational Education, such as Teaching Practitioners (Praktisi Mengajar), increasing the competence of vocational lecturers, link and match with industry, involvement in Business Cooperation and Creative Creativity (Kedaireka), and others. The internationalization program can also be an opportunity for vocational education to improve its quality.
(Photo: Group photo of UI leadership and the Directorate General of Vocational Education)
“We continue to strive to provide internationalization programs for vocational education, such as joint degree and dual degree programs, proposals for fast track program funding through the Educational Fund Management Institution (LPDP) for 2024, as well as international internships,” said Dr. Ir. Kiki. She also said that the focus and goals of vocational higher education through Key Performance Indicators (IKU) cover three dimensions, namely the quality of graduates, lecturers, as well as curriculum and learning.
