The Indonesian archipelago consists of thousands of islands connected by various straits and seas. It is, as such, of vital importance to develop the nation’s maritime industry.
To this end, President Joko Widodo has made it a priority to enhance the country’s maritime capabilities and build a maritime highway that will streamline sea transportation around the archipelago.
In order to follow through on this vision, the nation needs internationally certified human resources that can serve as the backbone for the maritime industry. Unfortunately, maritime school can only do so much to supply this industry with skilled workers.
In 2014, in response to the country’s need for more qualified sailors, Djarum Foundation began working with one of the largest banking institutions in Japan, the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), to introduce two maritime study program called “Nautical Studies” and “Marine Engineering” at SMK Wisudha Karya vocational high school in Kudus regency in Central Java.
This year, in recognition of both programs fulfilling the rigid requirements of the Standarts of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (SCTW) 2010 from the International Maritime Organization, the Transportation Ministry recently presented the school with an approval certificate.
Presented on March 23 on the school grounds, this event saw Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi himself witnessed the presentation of the distinguished award. The school is one of just three maritime vocational high school in the country to receive this recognition.
With this approval certificate, graduates thereafter are licensed as ship officer to work on board both domestic and international merchant vessels.
Also present at the ceremony was the Singaporean ambassador to Indonesia, Anil Kumar Nayar, who witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the school and ITE Education Services to launch a joint- degree program in marine engineering.
ITEEES is part of a vocational institution in Singapore called the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), which specializes in developing the technical and vocational education and training capabilities of the international community.
Graduates of this joint-degree program will receive a Higher National ITE Certificate in Marine Engineering and have their graduation ceremony at the ITE campus in Singapore.
“By obtaining certification from the Transporation Ministry and graduating from the joint-degree program with ITE, we believe these graduates will be highly sought after by established companies who value the knowledge and training they receive,” said Primadi Serad, Djarum Foundation’s program director.