Mercedes-Benz has a long-standing history in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest nation. In 1894, the first motor vehicle to be driven around the island of Java was the Benz Victoria Phaeton, owned by the Sultan of Solo, Pakoe Boewono X. Since then, Mercedes-Benz has become the leading luxury automotive brand in Indonesia. This year, Mercedes-Benz marks its 50th anniversary and as part of the celebrations the first motor vehicle – the Benz Patent-Motorwagen replica was donated to Museum Nasional Indonesia – the Indonesia National Museum – in Jakarta. “We are thrilled to donate an original replica of the first motor car in the world, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen to the Museum Nasional Indonesia. Mercedes-Benz has played an important role in the history of mobility in Indonesia as the first motorcar in Indonesia was a Benz. “With this donation, we support the Museum Nasional Indonesia on its mission to educate about Indonesia’s territory and its history. Therefore, we are proud, as we celebrate 50 years of Mercedes-Benz in Indonesia, to contribute to the museum and its efforts in the field of education and culture of transportation,” says Choi Duk Jun, President Director, PT Mercedes-Benz Distribution Indonesia. PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia got its start in 1970 in Indonesia as PT Star Motors Indonesia – a joint venture between between PT Daimler-Benz AG and PT Gading Mas. In the same year, an assembly plant of PT German Motor Manufacturing was constructed for the production of Daimler-Benz products. As the company grew, Mercedes-Benz began operations at a local assembly facility in Wanaherang, Bogor, West Java in 1982. The facility is currently the location of PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia and PT Daimler Commercial Vehicles Manufacturing Indonesia and it locally assembles the carmaker’s passengers cars and bus chassis. “We are very proud to be part of today’s ceremony that starts the celebration of 50 years of Mercedes-Benz in Indonesia. Ever since the first Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles were assembled in the factory in Indonesia, back then the Mercedes-Benz L 911 in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, our company has been part of contributing to the industrialization in Indonesia. Moreover, we are on a journey together on public transportation with our buses,” added Jung-Woo Park, President Director, PT Daimler Commercial Vehicles Indonesia.
Apriyadi, a student at SMK 26, applied directly to a vocational school because his parents could not afford college tuition fees. He plans on getting work immediately after graduating so he could support his parents by working his way through college at the same time. He was delighted that he was able to join the GDVET Program. The program gave him the edge he needed to obtain employment, whether it be with the company that he apprenticed at or any other company where his skill would be applicable. “Because it’s in both the school and the company, I gained the benefit of learning both theory and practical skills. I learned that you also need a strong integrity and strong discipline to work in an industry,” he said. The “EKONID Industry Class”, as it is colloquially known by Apriyadi and his fellow students at SMK 26, is actually EKONID’s German Dual Vocational Education and Training (GDVET) program, wherein EKONID supports both member and non-member companies to qualify future skilled workers. This program falls in line with President Joko Widodo’s vision of revitalizing Indonesia’s vocational schools – a vision he announced when he was first elected President in 2014. Mr. Widodo, who had his start as a humble furniture salesman, saw the value of having strong vocational schools and having a steady stream of skilled and professional industrial workers in his efforts to boost the Indonesian economy. “We presented the Kelas Pesanan concept to a number of parties, including the Ministry of Education. From there, we were given the information that EKONID was looking for a school for its model of traineeship pilot project. We then had a meeting with EKONID, after which we agreed that it was indeed a match. The model was completely in line with the concept that we had designed. Thus, in 2017, we started to cooperate with EKONID on this,” Mr. Purwosusilo said. Future Role Model Those familiar with Germany’s dual system would easily recognize the concept of EKONID’s GDVET program. Utilizing a 60% practical knowledge and experience training and 40% theoretical education structure, EKONID’s GDVET program has been further optimized with a curriculum that’s designed to be compatible with the workforce condition in Indonesia whilst still adhering to the German standard. This is expected to result in potential new recruits who are able to adapt to the latest developments in the industrial sector. EKONID’s GDVET programs can be tailored to the needs of companies. The GDVET program at SMK 26 is just one example of its successful application. The approach is also being applied in SMK 56, as well as in the Astra Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Astra) technical institute – both in Jakarta. In SMK 26 specifically, the program is done as a continuous two-month theoretical and four-month apprenticeship components done over the course of two-and-a-half years. Mr. Purwosusilo expressed his amazement at the level of training and education that EKONID and its partner companies are willing to invest in his students. He said his school has worked with other companies to arrange an education and training program similar to EKONID’s, but that EKONID’s program was the most comprehensive. “No other institution is willing to work together like this... the only organization willing to commit to this 2.5 year dual system is EKONID. The rest would only go for one year... In the future, the role model will be EKONID’s model,” he said.