East Java partners with Chinese industry to train 5,000 vocational teachers in AI

The East Java Provincial Education Office is partnering with BOKE Technology Shanghai, China, to train 5,000 vocational high school (SMK) teachers in the animation field to master artificial intelligence (AI) starting August 2026. “Technological developments, especially AI, are progressing very rapidly. Therefore, improving the competence of teachers and students is a need that cannot be postponed,” said Head of the East Java Education Office Aries Agung Paewai in Surabaya on Thursday. The East Java Education Office wants to ensure that learning at SMKs always keeps pace with industry developments so that East Java graduates are highly competitive and ready to face the challenges of the global job market. The collaboration is a follow-up to the East Java Education Office’s industry visit to BOKE Technology in Shanghai. On 22–23 July 2026, the Chinese company’s team visited three leading animation SMKs: SMKN 4 Malang, SMKN 2 Singosari, and SMKN 12 Surabaya. Aries said the collaboration is part of efforts to strengthen the technology-based transformation of vocational education. In the initial phase, 5,000 productive teachers, specifically in animation expertise, will take part in online training starting August 2026. The programme is expected to accelerate the application of AI in learning while improving graduates’ readiness to meet global industry needs. In addition to discussing the training, the BOKE Technology team also reviewed the animation work produced by East Java vocational students. Aries assessed that the quality of the work is capable of competing with graduates of vocational schools abroad. “They came to see for themselves the quality of our SMK students. The fact is, the work produced is extraordinary. Some of the students’ products are even on par with work at the university level. This proves that East Java SMK graduates have highly competitive abilities, especially in animation,” he said. According to him, the quality of the work displayed was the reason the company expanded its cooperation with vocational schools in Indonesia. Wang Chen explained that the Game+ Education programme is designed to introduce AI technology in the creation of games, webtoons, novels, and short dramas. After the training, participants will also have the opportunity to take part in an AI design competition in China, opening up recruitment opportunities with industry. “We hope this collaboration can help schools in East Java obtain AI learning materials that are continuously updated according to international industry standards, while also opening up opportunities for global collaboration and competition for the students,” he added.