Indonesia-China Expand Vocational Education Partnership to Build Human Capital

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - China has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Indonesia’s efforts in strengthening vocational education and human resource development, a sector increasingly seen as vital for boosting competitiveness and creating new jobs.

Speaking after the China-Indonesia Media and Think Tank Forum 2026 in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Ambassador Wang Lutong said Beijing has engaged with several Chinese companies to establish partnerships with Indonesian universities and vocational institutions.

“We have invited Chinese enterprises to collaborate with Indonesian campuses in vocational training,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

China also welcomed Indonesia’s initiative to send top students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) studies at Tsinghua University, which Ambassador Wang described as the beginning of broader academic exchanges with leading Chinese universities.

Recently, delegations from six Chinese universities visited Indonesia to explore partnerships with local academies, technology institutes, and vocational colleges. “We aim to combine industry and technology with higher education in Indonesia,” Ambassador Wang added.

The ambassador emphasized that strengthening cooperation in vocational and higher education would help open new employment opportunities and enhance Indonesia’s economic competitiveness.

He also highlighted the growing number of Indonesian students studying in China--now exceeding 20,000--alongside Chinese students pursuing education in Indonesia.

Earlier this year, the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology initiated collaboration between the Indonesian Vocational Higher Education Forum (FPTVI) and the Guangdong Education Association for International Exchange (GEAIE).

The framework includes establishing a joint cooperation center and alliance mechanism across ten key industrial sectors, with more than 100 exchange and training activities planned. The program aims to facilitate two-way mobility for 1,000 students and provide training for 10,000 Indonesian talents.

This initiative underscores the growing role of education as a cornerstone of the Indonesia-China partnership, linking academic collaboration with industrial innovation to prepare a skilled workforce for the future. ***