Jakarta (Indonesia) : Indonesia and Switzerland signed a letter of intent (LoI) for cooperation to strengthen Indonesia’s vocational education system in the manufacturing sector. The cooperation will come under a dual education-and-training system.
Switzerland Ambassador to Indonesia Yvonne Baumann said the dual system would allow students to combine learning processes at school and in the workplace.
“Switzerland has consistently ranked among the world’s most competitive economies and has one of the lowest rates of youth unemployment in the world,” she said after the LoI signing with the Industry Ministry in Mojokerto, East Java.
“One of the reasons for that success is our education system and the dual vocational education and training system, which has been crucial for Switzerland’s economic performance.”
In addition to signing the LoI, the two parties are also seeking to assist a certain manufacturing sector and link it with vocational schools (SMK) in the next three to six months.
The embassy has stated that Switzerland has allocated 75 million Swiss Franc (US$74.36 million) for various development projects in the 2017-2020 period to enhance bilateral relations with Indonesia. The funds will be allocated for macroeconomics assistance, private sector development, infrastructure and trade.
Meanwhile, the Industry Ministry launched a demand-driven vocational program named “Link and Match” in an industrial area in Mojokerto to address the lack of skilled workers, a problem that hampers the development of some industries.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
