National internship boosts skills for 98.5 pct participants: Govt
In a statement received on Tuesday, Bakom Head Muhammad Qodari said the findings were based on an evaluation of the first and second cohorts of the 2025 National Internship Program, involving 65,245 participants and 7,217 mentors from partner institutions.
“In terms of competency, nearly 98.5 percent of participants demonstrated improvements in their technical skills, with progress categorized as either significant or moderate,” he said.
The evaluation also found that more than 84 percent of participants were either satisfied or highly satisfied with the program.
A similarly high level of satisfaction was recorded among mentors and host institutions, with around 84 percent expressing satisfaction or high satisfaction with the interns’ ability to learn and absorb knowledge throughout the program.
“The National Internship Program is designed to strengthen the skills of the younger generation while providing work experience that matches the needs of businesses and industries,” Qodari said.
He added that the program not only provides practical workplace experience but also enables participants to build professional networks, broaden their understanding of the working environment, and improve their opportunities to secure employment with their host institutions.
Government evaluations showed that around 30 percent of participants received job offers after completing their internships.
From an economic perspective, more than 97 percent of participants said the internship allowance was sufficient or more than sufficient to support their personal or family finances.
To build on the program’s achievements, the government has opened registration for the 2026 National Internship Program from July 15 to July 28, offering 50,000 placements as part of this year’s target of 150,000 participants.
The 2026 target represents an increase from the 102,696 participants recorded in 2025.
Under the program, university graduates undertake six-month internships and receive an allowance based on the applicable provincial or district minimum wage.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Raka Adji