Jakarta (ANTARA) - Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key to achieving inclusive and equitable education at the 12th BRICS forum.
"The Indonesian government is committed to enhancing the quality and competitiveness of human resources through TVET,” Minister Yuliarto stated in a press statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
He emphasized that TVET plays a crucial role in equipping individuals with practical job-ready skills, bridging the skills gap, and improving employability.
Since 2016, Indonesia has prioritized expanding access to TVET by revitalizing vocational schools. Currently, more than 14 thousand secondary vocational schools operate across the country, serving over 4.9 million students, including increasing inclusivity for students with special needs.
The government also offers scholarships through the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) to support the education of students from low-income families.
In the higher education sector, the ministry has launched a program called “Diktisaintek Berdampak" (Impactful Higher Education, Science, and Technology), which aims to position polytechnics as centers of applied education and innovation.
“We are broadening diploma and applied degree programs and strengthening industry-academia partnerships to ensure our graduates are equipped with 21st-century skills,” Yuliarto affirmed.
As a new member of BRICS cooperation, he emphasized Indonesia’s support for integrating digital transformation and green economy competencies into the TVET system.
“We are really eager to contribute to the goals of BRICS cooperation and look forward to guidance and collaboration moving forward,” he stated.
During the forum, the TVET Cooperation Alliance (TCA) Charter was also adopted as a framework for collaboration and Indonesia officially gained access to the BRICS Network University Memorandum of Understanding, enabling 22 Indonesian universities to propose joining various thematic groups.
