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Skills development has been a key part of Swisscontact’s work in Indonesia since the early 1970s. With the establishment of the country’s first polytechnic as its pioneering project, Swisscontact continues to set a benchmark for industry-driven vocational education and training (VET), to respond the different challenges that come with the change of times.
Through the Skills for Competitiveness (S4C) and Sustainable Tourism Education Development (STED) projects, launched in 2018, Swisscontact aims to advancing private sector competitiveness by equipping the workforce with industry-relevant skills in Indonesia. Both are now in their second phase of implementation (2024-2027) and are also known as the Swiss Skills for Competitiveness, a skills development initiative of the Government of Switzerland.
With more than seven years of project implementation, it was time to bring the achieved milestones and future outlook into the limelight. The “Skills in Action Forum: Advancing Competitiveness”, held in Jakarta on Thursday, 27 February 2025, set the stage to do exactly that. Over 140 participants joined on site and online.
By bringing the Swiss-inspired dual VET approach to Indonesia, the S4C and STED projects aim to develop the skills of future graduates, increase their hours of practical experience, and strengthen public-private partnerships. This also ensures that both educational institutions and companies take shared ownership of workforce development.
“Through our projects, we strengthen people to improve their employability, increase the competitiveness of companies to grow their business, and foster social and economic systems to promote inclusive development,” said Program Manager Daniel Weibel.
The Indonesian Ministry of Industry, our partner for the S4C project, has already experienced first-hand the improved employability of graduates thanks to the dual training approach.
“Many vocational education institutions managed by the Ministry of Industry have been implementing the dual vocational education system. They are now proven to be vocational education institutions which have drawn great public interest and excel in training work-ready graduates,” explained Masrokhan, Head of the Ministry’s Agency of Industrial Human Resources Development, in his opening remarks at the Forum.
The role of the dual VET approach in providing high-quality vocational training that aligns with industry needs is also acknowledged by the Ministry of Tourism, our partner for the STED Project. In her opening remarks, Martini Mohamad Paham, the Ministry’s Deputy for Resources and Institutions, emphasised the importance of lasting partnerships in scaling up and institutionalising the dual VET approach.
“I highly appreciate the incredible support and collaboration from the Swiss Government and SECO. Let’s team up once again to create a superior generation that can bring Indonesian human resources to a higher and more competitive level,” said Paham.
The subsequent panel discussion, titled “Strengthening the competitiveness of the private sector through the development of skilled human resources”, elaborated how the dual approach to vocational training improves the competitiveness of the private sector.
The discussion welcomed insights from Dr. Andar Danova L. Goeltom, M.Sc, Assistant Deputy of Human Resources Capacity Improvement of the Apparatus and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Tourism; Supardi, Director of Banten Petrochemical Industry Polytechnic (PIPB); Daryanto, In-CT and industry lecturer from PT Nippon Shokubai Indonesia (NSI); Wisnu Wibowo, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia)’s Chairman of the Standing Committee for Vocational Training on Vocation and Certification; and Ayu Aditiyani Masita, Founder of Wise Steps Foundation.
The panellists highlighted their journey in the designing and implementing industry-based curricula, structured internships, and in-company trainer trainings, as well as improving lecturers’ competency. Their experiences prove one thing in common: strengthening collaboration with the industry through emphasizing practical and experience-based learning brings Indonesia closer to a more competitive private sector.
For example, the partnership between PIPB, which Swisscontact helped to establish through the S4C Project in 2022, and the private sector such as PT NSI, helps the PPIB’s first batch of 451 students to secured employment even before graduation. Furthermore, intermediaries, such as KADIN Indonesia and Wise Steps, help align competencies with industry standards, connect students with internship opportunities, and promote the replication of best practices.
“Let us take some inspiration from today’s discussion to ensure that VET not only survive current challenges, but also actively playing a role in driving sustainable growth,” noted Saesario Indrawan, our Senior Program Officer for Public Private Cooperation, who moderated the panel discussion.
With all hands on deck, a more competitive private sector could support the efforts to promote inclusive development through fostering social and economic systems.
“I would like to invite everybody to build on today's momentum and continue fostering partnerships that turn graduates into contributors to Indonesia's long-term prosperity and the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Together, we can develop a workforce that is adaptable, skilled, and ready for the opportunities ahead,” concluded Violette Ruppanner, Head of Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).