The quality of human resources is a basic factor that needs to be considered in order to increase the competitiveness and productivity of the workforce in facing the demographic bonus. In addition, the pandemic conditions made labor force growth less balanced, and caused the open unemployment rate to rise 1.84% to 7.07%.
As stated by Ennita Pramono, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics Indonesia, in the face of competition for workforce expertise, vocational education is required to improve quality and develop learning concepts that provide significant results in increasing skills.
“Since 2013, Samsung has presented STI to align the SMK curriculum with the competencies needed by the industry. The STI program provides opportunities for students to have skills that are in line with industry needs, and are able to increase job opportunities when they graduate, “said Ennita.
Officially operating since 2013 under the name Samsung Learning House, the STI program aims to provide electronic equipment repair training for young people with various backgrounds, so that graduates have more skills and are able to compete for jobs.
In 2017, this program was refined by enriching the curriculum and target beneficiaries, namely SMK, in order to create graduates who can be absorbed directly by the industry. By presenting three curricula consisting of Home Appliances (HA), Audio Video (AV) and Hand Held Product (HHP) classes.
In addition to providing the same training curriculum with the basic skills applied to Samsung Service Centers, Samsung also facilitates students and teachers to carry out industrial field practice at Samsung Service Centers and its affiliates.
“The given curriculum opens opportunities for us to hone skills. This ability is what makes us work-ready and successful in getting jobs as Consumer Electronics Technicians, ”said Wawan Bima Saputra and Yudha Anggoro Putra, alumni of STI Kediri (SMK Al-Huda Kota Kediri), graduates of 2020.
Until now, 789 STI graduates from class 2017 have graduated in 2020. Some of them have already found jobs, both as technicians and those related to the electronics industry. Some of them also opened new business fields, namely HHP repair workshops.
In implementing the STI program, Samsung also provides Training of Trainers for teachers which is conducted regularly every year. The entire curriculum is delivered by prioritizing digitalization technology, so that students and teachers can optimize technology for a more effective learning process.
Through partnerships with 70 SMKs, the STI program has successfully touched 6,000 students and 150 teachers throughout Indonesia. In the future, Samsung will continue to strive to provide opportunities for other SMKs in Indonesia to join the STI program.
“We always motivate the younger generation, especially vocational school students, to keep achieving and be confident. That being a vocational high school graduate who is skilled and competent, and has character, is intelligent, and productive, can have a positive impact on oneself and be able to open up opportunities to enter the world of work, “Ennita concluded.
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