News and Opportunities
VET mission to Indonesia first stage of wider strategy
16 May 2012
The Australian Trade Commission and Australian Education International (AEI) from the Australian Embassy Jakarta hosted representatives from the Australian VET sector for a two day program on 24–25 April 2012. The mission in Indonesia was part of the ASEAN VET Mission 2012 to Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
This mission was the first stage of a wider strategy to build and strengthen collaboration between Australian and Indonesian VET providers, the Indonesian Government and industry in Indonesia, to address the skills gaps.
Visiting representatives were given a briefing on AusAID scholarship opportunities, attended a business reception hosted by the Deputy Head of Mission, Dr David Engel, actively participated in the VET symposium and undertook a series of individual appointments to explore mutual opportunities. The program attracted strong interest from public and private polytechnics — with 48 representatives from polytechnics from across Indonesia joining the program, as well as senior government officials and representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), industry and employer associations and corporates.
During the VET symposium, the ADB delivered a presentation, Recent Economic Growth, Labour Markets and Employment in Indonesia. Representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the South East Asian Ministers for Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Regional Learning Centre shared their insights on how they see employment skills gaps in industry and the Indonesian VET sector, and their forward visions for engagement. The Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) then presented on Australian capability in vocational education and training, followed by a presentation by Martin Riordan, CEO of TAFE Directors Australia on Indonesia industry skills gaps and possible vocational training solutions and areas for further collaboration.
VET providers from both Indonesia and Australia then delivered case studies of Australian VET providers collaborating with industry for training programs in the automotive, mining and hospitality sectors. The Indonesian Polytechnic Manufacturing ASTRA showcased their collaboration with Box Hill Institute in the area of automotive training; TAFE NSW showcased their collaboration with several mining companies in Australia. In the hospitality sector, William Angliss Institute showcased the collaboration with ASEAN Tourism in developing competency standards for the hospitality and tourism industries across ASEAN.
Eight Australian VET providers participated in the VET mission in Indonesia (Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, MTS Learning, Southbank Institute of Technology, Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE, TAFE NSW Sydney Institute, TAFE South Australia, West Coast Institute of Training, and William Angliss Institute).
Australian VET providers wishing to receive more information and tap into the VET sector in Indonesia can send expressions of interest to Miss Selvia Tanggara, Education Manager, Austrade Jakarta, or Ms Sovi Arinta, Business Development Manager, Austrade Jakarta.
The panel discussion: Mr Priasto Aji, Economist (Economy) at Asian Development Bank; Drs Dewa Gde Byomantara, Deputy Director at Bali Tourism Institute, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy; Mr Kokok Haksono Dyatmiko, Head Development and Improvement of Polytechnics Centre at the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture; Dr Ir Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, Director of SEAMEO SEAMOLEC; Mr Abdul Wahab Bangkona, Director General of Training and Productivity Development at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration.