Kadin Institute Establishes Apprenticeship Cooperation with Germany
Surabaya — Kadin Institute has established a cooperation agreement with Germany to expand educational and vocational training opportunities based on the dual system (ausbildung) for young Indonesians in Germany.
This was formalised through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Kadin Institute and Handwerkskammer Dortmund and Industrie- und Handelskammer Trier.
“Link and match must be tangible. Currently we have 17 training programmes tailored to German industry requirements, supported by dual certification,” said Kadin Institute Director Nurul Indah Susanti in Surabaya on Saturday.
Susanti noted that this cooperation represents a strategic opportunity amid national unemployment challenges, as it creates genuine employment prospects for Indonesian youth.
The General Chairman of Kadin East Java, Adik Dwi Putranto, stated that approximately 80 per cent of Kadin East Java’s programmes focus on vocational training based on the dual system, which is now beginning to be established with Kadin’s foreign partners.
Tobias Schmidt, Managing Director of Vocational Education and Training Center HWK Dortmund, revealed that Germany currently faces a shortage of professional workers in the skilled crafts sector, particularly in plumbing, sanitation, construction, electrical work, and other technical fields.
According to Schmidt, the greatest challenge in the international apprenticeship programme lies in German language proficiency, with participants required to achieve at least B1 level, ideally B2.
Similarly, Managing Director of IHK Trier Ulrich Schneider explained that the Trier region is experiencing a serious shortage of workers, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors. As Germany’s oldest city and a major tourist destination, Trier is heavily dependent on tourism, yet hotels, restaurants, and service sectors struggle to find professional staff.
Therefore, Ulrich emphasised that the focus of this cooperation is not merely the number of participants but rather the sustainability and quality of the programme through the dual vocational training system.
From a facilitation perspective, Niklas Cramer, Project Manager at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), assured that protection of Indonesian participants in Germany is guaranteed by local labour law.
“Indonesian participants will receive contracts identical to German workers and enjoy equivalent rights and obligations,” he stated.
Regarding participants’ futures, Cramer clarified that graduates are not required to return immediately to Indonesia. After their training contract expires, they have approximately 12 months to find new employment in Germany before their visa ends.
Participants will receive a training allowance of approximately €1,000 per month in the first year, increasing annually during the 2-3.5 year training period.
“This is not full salary, but rather a training allowance. Education is conducted through the dual system, with two days at vocational school and three days at the company,” he explained.