The Vocational Faculty of Universitas Brawijaya (UB) on Thursday (6/2/2025) held a Seminar and Working Meeting of the Indonesian Vocational University Forum (FPTVI) in 2025 which took place at UB Widyaloka Building.
With the theme “Accelerating Inclusive and Sustainable Innovation towards Globally Competitive Vocational Education”, this activity presented speakers including Dr. Beny Bandanadjaja, ST., MT (Director of Institutions, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology) and Ir. Onno Widoddo Purbo, M.Eng., PhD (Expert, Practitioner and Activist of Information Technology).
In his speech, the Dean of UB Vocational Faculty, Mukhammad Kholid Mawardi, S.Sos., MAB., Ph.D conveyed that this activity, besides establishing friendship between members of the Indonesian Vocational University Forum through seminars, will also hold an FPTVIN Working Meeting which is expected to provide input in preparing work programs in the development of future Vocational education in Indonesia
“There are around 200 participants who have confirmed their attendance at this activity, from various Vocational universities throughout Indonesia. Please participate in activities, both seminars and working meetings, therefore I would like to express my gratitude to the speakers who hopefully can inspire us with their innovations,” said Mawardi.
Meanwhile, the Head of FPTVI Prof. Dr. Ir. Muh. Restu, MP said that coming to UB was a retracement where eight years ago it was at UB that the name of the Vocational Higher Education Forum was declared.
Prof. Restu added that the existence of the Vocational Higher Education Forum is a forum for friendship to build a network for all vocational higher education, both polytechnics and vocational education at the University for us to think together to carry out activities to develop Vocational higher education and of course it is hoped that we can contribute in order to prepare superior human resources, with the expected character, with good innovation capabilities and of course competitiveness both nationally and globally.
Meanwhile, UB Chancellor, Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., Med.Sc., who was present to open the activity conveyed things that were considered very important related to Vocational education.
“This Vocational Education is expected to be able to prepare the younger generation with specific skills, so that their skills match the needs of the business world and the industrial world, but now the era of technological change is very fast, so there is a term ‘disruption technology’. In several studies, Indonesia has even experienced a process called deindustrialization which has become a national problem, many factories have closed since they are unable to compete, such as textile factories that are widely available in East Java and followed by many more,’ said the Chancellor starting his speech.
“Well, when we prepare human resources that are ready to use for industry, but many industries are closing. This will certainly be a problem in the future if we do not anticipate it, therefore in my opinion there are several things that we can do, one of which is that perhaps the skills must be switched from those that are ready to work but must also be able to create businesses to become entrepreneurs,” he added.
In addition, the Chancellor also said that management processing skills that are sustainable with global challenges are also absolutely necessary if you want to compete in the global market. Preparing human resources by equipping children to be confident, to have the capacity to be able to adapt to global culture is also an important part for vocational friends.
“But whatever the problems are, they are all challenges, which InshaAllah we are enthusiastic to resolve, hopefully in the future with this seminar and working meeting, vocational education will also match technology and global needs and be able to adapt to the development of the times,” concluded the Chancellor. (ron/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
