Politap to Recruit Practitioners as Industry Lecturers

Seizing opportunities and tackling challenges in the Industry 4.0 era must be supported by competent human resources to shape and produce outstanding graduates. Politeknik Negeri Ketapang (Ketapang State Polytechnic), as a vocational higher education institution, continues striving to collaborate with industry through the implementation of the higher education tri dharma. This was stated by Endang Kusmana, Director of Politeknik Negeri Ketapang, when opening a guest lecture for the D-III Machine Maintenance and Repair Study Program featuring practitioners from PT. Kayung Agro Lestari (KAL), a subsidiary of PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya Tbk (ANJ) and a partner company of Politeknik Negeri Ketapang, in the Politap hall on Friday, 20 December 2019.

Ketapang Regency is one of the main investment destinations in West Kalimantan with abundant regional potential in agriculture, plantations, and mining. Currently, Ketapang Regency hosts major international and national companies. Following up on this, the Director of Politeknik Negeri Ketapang stated that Politap must play an active role in preparing the human resources needed by industry, meaning Politap must stay close to industry.

Vice Director for Academic Affairs Adha Panca Wardanu stated that his team is currently in communication with several practitioners to become lecturers at Politeknik Negeri Ketapang, believing that engaging practitioners will enhance graduate quality. Currently, the institution has only engaged several part-time lecturers from the local government according to their competencies. Meanwhile, Study Program Coordinator for D-III Machine Maintenance and Repair Yusuf stated that industrial collaboration in his study program will apply the dual system concept starting in the 2020/2021 Academic Year, implementing a 3-2-1 learning system: 3 semesters in the classroom, 2 semesters in industry, and 1 semester for research.

The speaker from PT. Kayung Agro Lestari (KAL) welcomed the opportunity for practitioners to become industry lecturers, noting that this represents a form of corporate social responsibility to help improve the quality of human resources in Ketapang.