Indonesia
English
PONTIANAK – The State Polytechnic Consortium in West Kalimantan (Politeknik Negeri Pontianak, Politeknik Negeri Sambas, and Politeknik Negeri Ketapang (Ketapang State Polytechnic)) held a Kick-Off and Public Discussion event titled “Partnership Ecosystem Strengthening Program for Regional Potential-Based Innovation Development in West Kalimantan Province” at Hotel Orchardz Gajah Mada Pontianak on Tuesday (24/10/2023).
The Kick-Off event carried the theme “Mapping Regional Potential & Advantages in the Context of Regional Potential-Based Innovation Development and Strengthening the Partnership Ecosystem Between Vocational Education, DUDI, and Regional Governments in West Kalimantan Province”.
The event opened with remarks from Natalia Karyawati, Expert Staff for Law and Politics of the West Kalimantan Provincial Government, representing the Acting Governor of West Kalimantan. This was followed by remarks from Ahmad Saufi, Assistant Deputy for Vocational and Higher Education at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK); Uuf Brajawidagda, Acting Director of Partnership and Alignment of the Business and Industrial World (Mitras DUDI), Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology; and Widodo PS, Director of Polnep. It then continued with a public discussion featuring a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and heads of Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) in the West Kalimantan Provincial Government as speakers.
During this event, the partnership ecosystem strengthening program for regional potential-based innovation development in West Kalimantan Province was launched. This program is a three-year regional development research grand design referencing regional potential and advantages, as well as regional development priority agendas. The program aims to synergize partnerships and alignment between vocational education units and regional stakeholders.
In general, the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors are the largest contributors to West Kalimantan's economy. However, looking at the average growth over the past five years, the mining sector experienced the largest growth, particularly in Ketapang Regency. The tourism sector is also a leading sector across regencies and cities in West Kalimantan.
In order to meet the demand for skilled human resources in five leading sectors, synergy among higher education institutions, regional governments, DUDI, media, and communities is required. This collaboration will create a partnership ecosystem to encourage the availability of a superior and competent workforce to support West Kalimantan's leading sectors. In this regard, Vocational Higher Education (PTV) plays a vital role in producing superior and competent graduates.
Quoting from the Pontianak Post website, the Director of Polnep stated that through this partnership, Polnep, Poltesa, and Politap are synergizing under central guidance while partnering with the Provincial Government regarding issues on the ground.
“This partnership ecosystem has been facilitated by the ministry, so that we can innovate with the potential of each region. Politap has mining, Polnep does not, so we can complement each other; Sambas has its tourism. This means we are working hand in hand to advance West Kalimantan,” he said.
As a form of commitment, 15 MoUs were signed between the State Polytechnic Consortium in West Kalimantan and representatives of industry, MSMEs, and mass media. (Finan Su)