Kendal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) served as a meeting point for vocational higher education institutions and the industrial sector during the “Strategic Partnership Workshop for State Polytechnics and State Community Academies (AKN) Nationwide,” which was held at the Kendal Furniture and Wood Processing Industry Polytechnic. The event brought together vocational institutions specializing in various fields, including engineering, manufacturing, informatics, business, and healthcare, as well as business stakeholders, to align competency development and workforce needs and explore collaboration opportunities relevant to industrial advancements.
Themed “One Connection, a Million Opportunities: Strengthening Synergy Between Higher Education and Industry for Excellent and Competitive Human Resources,” the forum aimed to align industry needs with the potential of vocational education. Discussions centered on human resource competency development, internship and work-study programs, recruitment, industry-driven curriculum development, applied research, and innovation.
This meeting is part of an effort to build an industrial ecosystem supported by a ready workforce for Kendal SEZ. As industrial activities within the zone diversify, the demand for a competent workforce grows. Therefore, fostering closer ties between industry and vocational education is essential to ensuring that human resource development keeps pace with these needs. This commitment was reinforced through the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Kendal Industrial Park and various state polytechnics and community academies (AKN) across Indonesia, as well as with HOPE International Economic Cooperation (Wuhan) Co. Ltd.
Around 40 business entities from the Kendal SEZ participated on the industry side. They presented their company profiles, competency and workforce requirements, and collaboration opportunities to polytechnic and community academy representatives (AKN) from across Indonesia. Representing diverse sectors ranging from electronics and renewable energy to medical equipment, fashion, automotive, and packaging, these companies provided a broader perspective on the required competencies. This creates opportunities for vocational education institutions to develop more relevant and diverse skills in their students, while simultaneously supporting the availability of a skilled workforce that meets the needs of companies operating in the zone.
Juliani Kusumaningrum, Executive Director of Kendal SEZ, stated that the development of the zone must go hand in hand with human resource development to support the industrial activities within it. “As the zone develops and industrial activities become increasingly diverse, the demand for human resources with the appropriate competencies also expands. Therefore, we view collaboration with vocational education as a crucial step in aligning industry needs with talent development right from the educational stage,” said Juliani.
According to her, the company’s direct involvement in the forum benefits both parties. The industry can more concretely articulate its competency needs, and educational institutions can gain a closer understanding of developments and requirements in the world of work.
“We hope this collaboration will evolve into programs that deliver direct benefits, whether through internships, competency development, applied research, or job opportunities, rather than remaining merely on paper. This will allow vocational education to better align with industry needs and give companies access to a skilled workforce that meets their requirements,” she continued.
This partnership is expected to generate a broader impact on the region’s development by strengthening the relationship between vocational education and industry. In addition to meeting corporate demand for a competent workforce, the collaboration provides students and graduates with opportunities to gain experience and access to the industrial sector. It also fosters the development of competencies and innovations that align with Kendal SEZ’s industry needs.
