Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The North Maluku Provincial Government is\nprioritising the preparation of human resources (HR) to keep pace with\nthe development of the nickel downstream industry in the region. This\naims to bridge the gap between the availability of local labour and the\nspecific needs of the battery and renewable energy industries, which are\nnow the main economic drivers of the area.<\/p>\n
North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda explained that her\nadministration is focusing on developing vocational education through\npolytechnics. She emphasised the need for swift action to address the\ndisconnect between the current education system and the technical\nqualifications required by future industries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, the North Maluku Provincial Government, are focusing on\nvocational polytechnics. We realise there is a missing link between the\neducation system and the skill requirements needed by these future\nindustries,\u201d she said during the CNBC Indonesia Mining Zone event on\nFriday (12\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
Her administration is collaborating with several top universities in\nIndonesia to establish study programmes relevant to the renewable energy\nindustry. Additionally, the curriculum for Vocational High Schools (SMK)\nis being adjusted with the direct involvement of industry players so\nthat graduates possess standardised skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, not everyone has to wait to graduate with a bachelor\u2019s degree to\nwork; there are skills that can be acquired through vocational schools,\nand they will be ready to work after graduating from SMK. That is the\ntask we are currently preparing,\u201d Sherly stated.<\/p>\n
This initiative also considers the predicted continued growth of the\ndownstream industry in North Maluku. In the future, the region will not\nonly produce ferronickel but also become a centre for producing battery\ncells and energy storage devices, which require a skilled workforce in\nhigh-tech fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur human resource preparation cannot be like it was in the past; we\nmust change very quickly. And those who best understand the curriculum\nand how to prepare these human resources are the industry players\nthemselves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Currently, one industrial estate in North Maluku is reported to have\nabsorbed around 100,000 workers, though the proportion of local workers\nis still being optimised. With thorough educational preparation, the\nadministration hopes that local residents will not only fill basic\npositions but will also be able to occupy strategic roles such as\ntechnicians, supervisors, and managers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is also our task to increase the capacity of North Maluku\u2019s own\nhuman resources so that more of them are absorbed. Because currently,\nworkers from all over Indonesia are still employed there,\u201d she\nconcluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/north-maluku-intensifies-nickel-downstreaming-prepares-superior-human-resources-1781272310", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }