Ministry seeks to form maritime education association in SE Asia
Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – The Ministry of Transportation has initiated efforts toward the formation of an association for Southeast Asian sailing and maritime educational institutions.
In a statement received here on Tuesday, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that the push for collaboration between sailing institutions across Southeast Asia reflects the government’s commitment to advancing education and training in the sailing and maritime field.
The initiative aims to improve the human resource quality of STIP graduates so that they can meet international standards, he added.
“STIP Jakarta and other maritime education institutions in Southeast Asia have a crucial role in leading education curriculum development that always follows the development of science, technology, law, economics, and management in the maritime and sailing field,” Sumadi said.
While opening the 2023 Conference in Maritime Education and Training in Southeast Asia (Cometsea) in Jakarta, he asked associations of educational institutions to cooperate with sailing and maritime industry players in Southeast Asia.
According to him, such efforts are needed to close the gap between theoretical knowledge learned in college and practical skills needed in the industrial world.
“We want to ensure that the cadets’ education and training is in line with industry needs and they are ready to face the challenges of the dynamic sailing industry,” he explained.
The minister said that he expects the collaboration between academia and the industry to contribute to realizing a sustainable maritime ecosystem.
“In addition to meeting global demands, this collaboration underscores the importance of protecting the maritime environment,” he said.
Several speakers, including head of the Transportation Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMP), Djoko Sasono, and STIP head Ahmad Wahid attended the international conference, which was themed “Enhancing Maritime Education and Training in Southeast Asia.”