Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim has said that the study programs offered at the Nusantara Multimedia Polytechnic (PMN) are urgently required to strengthen Indonesia’s creative industry ecosystem.

“The three study programs offered by the Nusantara Multimedia Polytechnic — animation, event management, and e-commerce logistics — are fields that are urgently needed to strengthen the creative ecosystem in Indonesia,” the minister noted in a written statement  here on Wednesday.

Makarim remarked that graduates in these three fields will push and encourage the creation and downstreaming of the nation’s breakthroughs in the creative industry sector.

“I believe that with the dominant role of vocational education in contributing the best human resources for the country, they will make Indonesia a proud country (in the eyes of the world). Hence, I expect that the entire Nusantara Multimedia Polytechnic civitas academia will later participate in efforts to create strong vocational training (that will later) strengthen Indonesia,” he expounded.

The ministry also underscored the importance of collaboration between vocational academies and the industry, as well as the business world and the working world (IDUKA). Of the 13 episodes of Merdeka Learning that have been launched, two are vocational strengthening programs: the Vocational School Center for Excellence and the Merdeka Vocational Campus.

“This is proof of our seriousness in pushing for the realization of the national vision of creating superior human resources. Through the Vocational School Center of Excellence and the Merdeka Vocational Campus, we present a new scheme in collaboration between educational units with business and industry partners, those being the 8+I link and match,” he explained.

The minister expects this scheme to serve as a bridge between vocational colleges through the provision of intensive and holistic assistance from IDUKA, right from curriculum development to recruiting graduates.

Directorate General of Vocational Education of the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry continues to push for the improvement of diploma III (D-3) study programs to applied scholars (D-4). Director General of Vocational Education Wikan Sakarinto remarked that this step was an effort to reform vocational higher education in Indonesia for greater connection between vocational graduates and IDUKA.

“This policy is not mandatory but optional. However, this increase is highly encouraged and recommended for D-3 study programs (students), who are interested in the process of improving their (education),” he stated.

Sakarinto elaborated that as compared to the D-3, the D-4 study program will provide more benefits in a fair manner for higher education institutions, study program managers, the working world, and the graduates.

Source: Antara News