Committed to Improving Vocational in Indonesia, Astra Gives Rp30 Billion Grant to Diponegoro University’s Vocational School

Committed to Improving Vocational in Indonesia, Astra Gives Rp30 Billion Grant to Diponegoro University’s Vocational School

JAKARTA: Driven by the commitment to improve the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Indonesia, Astra came to support the construction of the vocational school under Diponegoro University, Semarang, providing a Rp30 billion grant.

Diponegoro University Vocational School began construction in early 2019. Now that the development has been completed, the school had the honor to be inaugurated today (26/8) by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, who had also signed the school’s placard. The official opening ceremony was witnessed virtually by Diponegoro University’s rector Yos Johan Utama, President Director Astra Djony Bunarto Tjondro, Director Astra Gita Tiffani Boer, and Chief of Corporate Affairs Astra Riza Deliansyah.

“The grant, from which this building and the supporting facilities provided for TVET in Diponegoro University came from, is an initiative that we need to support and appreciate. Beyond the campus facility, we hope that the students can be given the opportunity for apprenticeship and to learn in a real-life setting,” said the president in his speech during the virtual inauguration today.

“Our dedication to improving the quality of TVET in Indonesia represents our real sustainable social contribution in the education sector. Our contribution is also in line with the government’s vision of creating Indonesia’s best individuals to advance the nation and to have skilled manpower who are equipped to embrace the 4.0 industrial revolution,” said President Director Astra Djony Bunarto Tjondro.

Astra’s support to Diponegoro University’s Vocational School is part of Astra’s 25 years of dedication to Indonesia’s vocational education. Astra’s support has benefitted vocational high schools (SMK) and TVET managed by higher institutions.

For high schools, Astra and Astra Group have been working with 2,813 SMKs in support of the government’s programs: school-industry link and match, industry apprenticeship, as well as curriculum and school facility development. The link and match program in particular was launched by President Widodo in West Java, at the office of an Astra Group company in July 2017.

For higher vocational education, Astra has established Yayasan Astra Bina Ilmu or YABI, which oversees Astra’s manufacturing polytechnic, Politeknik Manufaktur Astra (Polman Astra).

Through Polman Astra, until 2019 Astra has witnessed the graduation of 3,470 diploma-III holders. Astra support has indeed been an indispensable force to Indonesia’s industry development, especially the growth of the companies under Astra Group, by training high-skilled engineers that the industry demands. In the past five years, Astra Group has been employing around 55% of Polman Astra alumni.

Adopting German Vocational Standard

The quality of Polman Astra graduates must also be attributed to the school facilities, the pedagogy that emphasizes on practical instead of theoretical learning, the education system, and the quality of instructors.

In terms of curriculum, Polman Astra adopts German’s vocational dual system for the school’s Mechatronics Automotive course under the Automotive Engineering major in its Diploma 3 program. In this context, Astra collaborates with the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and EKONID.

Through Polman Astra, Astra is the first company in Asia to adopt the German Bachelor Professional certification program for the automotive sector. This is the best and globally recognized standard of vocational education. Today, as many as Astra employees have graduated with German Bachelor Professional in Automotive degree.

In terms of its faculty members, three of Polman Astra’s instructors have undergone and successfully completed the Meister certification program that complies with German standards. Educating instructors is also important to improve the quality of graduates.

To create a better learning experience, in May 2019 Polman Astra began the construction of a campus facility in Delta Silicon Cikarang industrial area. Occupying a 5-hectare land, the campus’ buildings are planned to cover 47.000 m² of floor size. The campus will be equipped with classrooms, lab, workshop, and a teaching factory.

Astra hopes that its commitment and dedication can help nurture the excellence of Indonesia’s manpower who are ready to welcome 4.0 industrial revolution as skilled workers.

Astra’s determination to improve the quality of vocational education in Indonesia is in line with Astra’s mission of prosper with the nation.

For further information, please contact:

Boy Kelana Soebroto

Head of Corporate Communications

PT Astra International Tbk

Ph. 021-508-43-888

About Astra:

PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business segments, consisting of: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 235 subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates companies, and was supported by more than 194.359 employees, as of June 2020.

As one of the largest national business groups today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate governance and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Therefore, Astra's business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered a decade this year, and has given recognition awards to 305 young Indonesians, consisting of 59 national level recipients and 246 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 87 Kampung Berseri Astra and 645 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiated in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@SATU_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@SATU_Indonesia).