Internship Program for Open Students to Overseas

Opportunities for students to gain work experience outside the campus are expanded through the Merdeka Learning Campus Merdeka program. With certified apprenticeship programs at home and abroad, student work readiness can increase.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

DOKUMENTASI KADIN INDONESIA

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) supports an internship program for Indonesian students in Japan. This program, which aims to support the Independent Learning and Free Campus (MBKM) program by 2023, provides opportunities for students to directly experience the real world of work.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Certified internship and independent study programs continue to evolve to provide actual experience for students in the professional world. Opportunities for students to experience the real work world are open in domestic companies, even facilitated to go abroad.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) released 36 Indonesian students who participated in the Certified Internship Program in Japan last weekend. This is in line with Kadin Indonesia's commitment to make breakthroughs in preparing the skills and expertise of superior and innovative workers both domestically and abroad.

This certified internship program is a concrete step by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) in supporting the policies and programs of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), namely Free Learning and Independent Campus Program (MBKM).

Separately, the Acting Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikburistek), Nizam, stated on Sunday (16/7/2023) that students who engage in activities outside of campus through various MBKM programs receive job opportunities faster and a higher first salary.

"The Kampus Merdeka program, which provides opportunities for universities to learn outside of campus, such as internships and certified independent studies, is welcomed enthusiastically by students, universities, and the business world. Now, this is not only conducted by the Ministry of Education and Culture, but also independently by each university," said Nizam.

From the presentation of various MBKM flagship programs held by the Ministry of Education and Culture Research and Technology in recent years, it has resulted in graduates getting jobs faster and earning higher salaries than the regional minimum wage.

Nizam, in his presentation at the meeting of the Directorate General of Science, Technology and Higher Education with the media in Bogor, stated the results of a study which showed that students who participated in the International Student Exchange Program (IISMA) abroad had the shortest job waiting time of 0.3 months. Meanwhile, those who participated in the International Student Business Incubator (MSIB) only needed 1.1 months. The first salary obtained for the IISMA program was 1.88 times the minimum wage, while the MSIB was 1.78 times the minimum wage.

Also Read: Independence Campus Makes It Easier for Higher Education Graduates to Get Jobs

Internship abroad

According to the Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, Arsjad Rasjid, the certified internship program for Indonesian students is a form of synergy between the industrial world and education to improve the competency of human resources according to the needs of the industry through work experience opportunities abroad. Japan was chosen as one of the countries for student internships because of significant demographic changes in the population that affected the availability of the workforce.

In 2022, based on data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, the productive age population in Japan continues to decline by 556,000 people. Therefore, Japan needs additional productive workforce to address the demographic changes.

That became an opportunity for students to gain valuable experience and learning opportunities to develop relevant skills and expertise and contribute to fulfilling the workforce needs in the country. Kadin Indonesia believes that the program will provide significant benefits to students, enriching their knowledge and skills, as well as expanding their opportunities to enter the workforce.

"Students need to remember that during the internship program, they are not only representatives of their university, but also ambassadors of Indonesia abroad. We hope that students can take advantage of this valuable opportunity responsibly, exerting maximum effort, innovation, and creativity," said Arsjad.

One of the requirements for students who have the opportunity to participate in this program is the ability to speak Japanese at least equivalent to N4 level. Through this program, participants are expected to solve problems encountered at work in order to have a positive impact on the company's performance.

One of the participating internship students, Safira Febrianti, is grateful and appreciative of the opportunity given to follow a certified internship program in Japan. "I hope that through this program, the knowledge and learning we acquire will shape superior skills and abilities so that after returning from Japan, we can contribute to the industrial sector in Indonesia," she said.

Recruited company

The MSIB program conducted by the Ministry of Education and Culture's Research and Technology Division is entering its fifth cohort this year. The Head of the MSIB 2023 Program, Wachyu Hari Haji, revealed that the MSIB program has had positive impacts, one of which is providing participants with additional work experience. Through this program, they can get a real-life experience of working in a company.

MSIB Batch 5 program collaborates with companies from various fields to become partners. Through participation in this program, in addition to gaining experience, participants can also prepare for their future career journey.

University and Student Engagement OfficerMSIB Ayu Shagiira Rahmatika added, through MSIB students also have the opportunity to get a golden ticket to become permanent employees at MSIB partner companies. "Various stories have been told by alumni of the MSIB Batch 1-3 3 program who have performed well when running MSIB where they were directly recruited by partners to become employees," he said.

KOMPAS/ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU

Several students from Musamus University in Merauke Regency, South Papua, are independently running the Kampus Merdeka internship program at the Medco Papua Group company in Wapeko Village, Kurik District, for three months. The Independent Kampus Merdeka Program is run by universities to fulfill students' rights to learn outside the campus through various programs, one of which is an internship at a company.

Representative of Stechoq Robotics Indonesia as a partner of Batch 5 MSIB Febri Hari Natoro revealed that there is a golden opportunity for MSIB participants to become a permanent partner at home and abroad. "We will promote the careers of our MSIB participant friends to more than 200 of our partners. In addition, there is a golden ticket to become a Stechoq employee. Currently there are several alumni who are employees of Stechoq partners at home and abroad," he said.

Fauziah, as a representative of PT Arkatama Multi Solusindo, also emphasized that the MSIB program is actually one of the means of preparing future human resources who will be part of the company. "The MSIB program serves as a platform for the company to prepare potential employees for Arkatama. So far, there have been five MSIB internship participants who have been recruited as employees," she said.

Also Read: Industry–University Collaboration Strengthens Talent in the World of Work