DPR Commission VII urges AK-Tekstil Solo to innovate to boost human resources

Semarang — The Specific Working Visit Team of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) urged the Surakarta Textile Industry and Textile Products Community College Campus (AK-Tekstil Solo) to pursue new innovations, including in machine development, to raise the employability of its graduates.

‘While the manufacturing industry already uses modern machines, AK-Tekstil graduates are not yet ready to be employed,’ said Evita Nursanty, Chair of the DPR RI Commission VII Specific Working Visit Team, during a visit to AK-Tekstil Solo in Central Java on Friday, 22 May. The Commission VII DPR RI visited AK-Tekstil Solo to explore issues relating to human resources in the industrial sector.

‘There were discussions with the head of the agency (Head of the Centre for Development of Industrial Human Resources at the Ministry of Industry) and the AK-Tekstil Director; there are still many issues the polytechnic needs to address,’ Evita said.

She noted that, to date, the number of students at the vocational campus remains small and does not match the number of lecturers and the facilities available. Data show that one cohort at AK-Tekstil Solo comprises about 90 students, while there are 30 lecturers and 42 teaching and other staff.

‘We are not short of lecturers or teaching staff; it simply means that the AK-Tekstil Polytechnic must work harder. Why are students not keen to enrol at AK-Tekstil?’ she said.

In terms of the education level, she also hopes for upgrades across all study programmes.

‘Most of our students are at the Diploma II level, whereas what is needed are Diploma IV and even Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. So the polytechnic must upgrade the programmes it offers,’ she said.

Doddy Rahadi, Head of the Agency for the Development of Industrial Human Resources (BPSDMI) at the Ministry of Industry, said the DPR Commission VII Working Team’s visit to AK-Tekstil was to obtain real data about the education provided there.

‘There were associations, industry players, and representatives from the education sector present. The briefing was clear and comprehensive; all issues were raised and inputs, directions, and sharpening from Commission VII were provided,’ he said.

Regarding the suggestion to rebrand, he said it must be linked to industry needs.

‘The equipment is around 15 years old; we must adjust it, and there must also be a link and match with the industrial world, including internship programmes in industry. This is part of how we align output,’ he added.

‘The scholarship programmes are ongoing and will continue to support industry needs in Solo Raya. For areas with industrial activity, we visit the local governments and are exploring partnerships. Recently we began with the Department of Industry and the Department of Labour. We hope to meet with the regents and mayors in the area,’ he added.

Samuel Hartono, chair of the Indonesia Textiles Association (API) in Central Java, who also attended the event, offered suggestions on education levels and the addition of study programmes at AK-Tekstil Solo.

‘My suggestion is to open Diploma IV or Bachelor’s degree programmes, because if we remain at Diploma II we will be outpaced by the human resources of neighbouring countries. In China, for instance, there are many PhD graduates in this sector,’ he said.

Additionally, he hoped to see the establishment of Diploma in Dyeing and Textile Chemistry study programmes.

‘This is crucial because chemistry in textiles is key,’ he noted.