Industry and Education Collaboration: SMKN 1 Babelan Wins National Award
Collaboration between the industrial and educational sectors continues to demonstrate positive results. SMKN 1 Babelan, Bekasi Regency, has secured the SMK Centre of Excellence award under the standard scheme after implementing a quality improvement programme supported by PT Cikarang Listrindo through the Babelan Co-Firing Power Plant, in partnership with the Mitra Industri Mandiri Foundation.
The support programme is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative titled Lintas Energi (Listrindo Develops the Competencies of the Nation’s Children), which has been operating since 2024. The programme focuses on enhancing vocational education quality through learning process support, strengthening school infrastructure and facilities, and providing equipment to support student practical activities.
SMKN 1 Babelan’s success in obtaining the award demonstrates that strengthening vocational education requires collaboration among various stakeholders. Beyond the school itself, this includes industry, supporting partners, local government, and the business and industrial sectors that have a vested interest in SMK graduate quality.
Iyan Supriatna, Deputy Head of School for Public Relations and Industrial Relations at SMKN 1 Babelan, believes the programme has had a significant impact in improving student competencies to better align with workforce demands. “I am very proud and fully support this programme because it plays an important role in producing graduates with technical competencies, strong work character, and readiness to work directly in the industrial sector,” he said.
He added that the programme also strengthens the link and match concept between SMK and industry, enabling graduates to have greater competitiveness in the job market. This achievement shows that improving SMK quality depends not only on curriculum but also on an educational ecosystem supported by the industrial sector.
The SMK Centre of Excellence award also strengthens the school in three key areas: infrastructure, practical equipment, and learning quality.
Rani Maheswari Miraza, Corporate Communication Manager at PT Cikarang Listrindo, hopes this success will encourage more industrial stakeholders to recognise the potential of SMKN 1 Babelan graduates. “The hope is not only that the programme targets are met, but that more businesses and industries visit SMKN 1 Babelan to observe the potential of students who have strong achievements,” she said.
PT Cikarang Listrindo is an electricity producer that has operated since 1993 in Bekasi Regency. The company currently manages three power plants: PLTGU Jababeka, PLTGU MM2100, and Babelan Co-Firing Power Plant.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, PT Cikarang Listrindo implements various social and environmental responsibility programmes focused on four main pillars: socio-economic development, environment, health, and education. Through these social and educational initiatives, the company seeks to strengthen relationships between the industrial and educational sectors whilst supporting the development of competent human resources prepared to compete in the future.