USK Backs National Internship Programme to Curb Aceh's Rising Unemployment
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - Syiah Kuala University (USK) Banda Aceh fully supports the Aceh Government’s efforts to reduce unemployment rates through the 2026 National Apprenticeship Programme (PMN), also known as Maganghub, initiated by the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower.
“The support we provide not only encourages our young alumni to apply but also includes our readiness to register institutionally as an internal internship organiser,” said USK Rector Prof. Mirza Tablo in Darussalam on Thursday.
While receiving government officials, the Rector emphasised that USK is committed to supporting the national apprenticeship programme for fresh graduates to lower the unemployment rate in Aceh.
He has also instructed his staff to take swift, concrete steps within the campus to map out internship requirements and available positions internally. According to the Rector, by becoming an official internship provider on the Maganghub platform, USK’s various work units and laboratories can absorb new graduates as interns whose competencies are relevant to the roles.
Furthermore, relevant directorates have been ordered to accelerate massive socialisation efforts so that USK’s young alumni can take advantage of this golden opportunity.
“This rapid response is well-justified given that the employment challenges in Aceh are currently quite serious, especially following hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides that temporarily paralysed the production sector,” he said.
He noted that with Aceh’s Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) rising to 5.88 per cent as of February 2026, universities must play an active role as part of the regional solution.
The 2026 Maganghub programme from the Ministry of Manpower offers highly competitive protection and compensation schemes for fresh graduates. Interns over the next six months will receive an allowance sourced directly from the State Budget (APBN) at the standard regional minimum wage (UMP/UMK) level.
Currently, Aceh’s minimum wage ranks sixth nationally at approximately Rp3.9 million. Participants are also guaranteed protection under BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (social security) and will receive official competency certification from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) upon completion of the programme.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Aceh Manpower, Transmigration, and Labour Office, Akmil Husen, expressed gratitude for the rapid response and direct instructions from the USK rectorate to its staff.
“The presence of USK as a key partner is expected to help Aceh maximise the national quota, which the Ministry of Manpower has opened for up to 150,000 participants this year,” he said.
The Aceh Government aims to absorb up to 5,000 interns, supported by the opening of positions within the Chamber of Commerce (Kadin), the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and Regional State-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in Aceh.
USK and the Manpower Office urge all work units and corporate partners to meet the registration deadline for institutional positions, which opened on 29 June and will end on 15 July 2026. Registration for fresh graduates will open from 15 to 28 July 2026, followed by a selection process from 29 July to 5 August 2026, with results announced on 7 August 2026. Internship placements are scheduled to begin simultaneously between 10 and 11 August 2026.
Also present at the meeting were the Head of the Aceh Industry and Trade Office, T. Adi Darma, and the Head of the Aceh Regional Secretariat Bureau for Economy, Zaini.