Minister Yuliarto voices support for formation of engineers' council

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto has endorsed the plan to establish an engineering council to enhance support for the Indonesian Engineers Association (PII) and advance President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita agenda.

During a meeting with PII representatives at his office in Jakarta on Monday (February 24), Yuliarto instructed his Director General of Science and Technology, Ahmad Najib Burhani, to outline the necessary steps to strengthen the association’s role.

According to a statement from his office on Tuesday, Yuliarto emphasized the importance of involving PII in the formation of the engineering council.

"We expect this process to yield outcomes that contribute to President Prabowo's Asta Cita agenda," he stated.

The minister also urged the association to assist the government in bridging the gap between Indonesia’s industrial sector and its research ecosystem.

In this context, he encouraged industry players to collaborate with universities and utilize academic research to drive Indonesia’s economic growth.

Furthermore, he stressed the need to equip the Indonesian workforce with the new skills and competencies required in the evolving job market, shaped by advancements in research and technology.

Speaker of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR), Hetifah Sjaifudian, echoed the minister’s stance on the importance of aligning workforce skills with actual industry demands.

The lawmaker also serves as chair of the Council of Experts of the PII.

Meanwhile, Chair of PII's Advisory Council, Heru Dewanto, expressed hope that Minister Yuliarto would make every effort to ensure the establishment of the engineering council.

"The PII can contribute to industrialization and downstream efforts. We hope Mr Minister will advocate for the formation of the engineering council to reinforce the legal framework supporting our profession," he remarked.