Transforming community vocational training centres with the adoption of digital technology

The ILO supports the programme of Indonesian government to transform community vocational training centres to be more professional training providers with the adoption of digital technology. The support is part of the UN joint programme.

News | Jakarta, Indonesia | 19 April 2022
The Indonesian government's programme on the development of Community Vocational Training Centres (BKL Komunitas) across the country. (c) Kemnaker
To assist the recovery of vulnerable groups who will compete in a more competitive job market during and after COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to secure the provision of relevant and high-quality training. The Government of Indonesia, therefore, has expanded and eased access to vocational training for Indonesian communities, including those in remote areas, by establishing more than 2,000 Community Vocational Training Centres (BLK Komunitas or BLKK).

We hope that after this programme, BLKKs continue to maintain their transformation process to become independent, professional training providers, facilitators and managers, who can identify and make the best use of the opportunities on skills training needs of local industries and communities."

Navitri Putri Guillaume, ILO’s Project Officer for Employment and Livelihood Project
To support the transformation of BLKKs and enable them to provide high-quality training programmes, the ILO through its United Nations (UN) joint programme, the Employment and Livelihood Project, conducted a pilot project titled “Empowering BLK Komunitas”, in collaboration with the Axioo Class Programme, a digital training provider.

The empowerment programme aimed to enhance the capacities of BLKKs to provide relevant skills training programme for their surrounding communities by collaborating with private and public training providers as well as industries.

Out of 44 BLKKs eligible for the programme, the pilot project selected 3 BLKKs that successfully passed four selection processes. The selected BLKKs were BLKK Madrasah As-Sunnah An-Nabawiyyah (MSN) Blitar, East Java, BLKK Darussalam Kemiri Batang, Central Java, and BLKK Girikesumo Demak, Central Java.

Benefits of BLKK empowerment programme.
Throughout out the period of five months from September 2021 to January 2022, the BLKK empowerment programme trained, mentored and transformed the selected BLKKs through three phases of training programmes consisted of theoretical training, blended training simulation I and blended training simulation II.

During the training programmes, the selected BLKKs were challenged and screened into professional providers, facilitators and managers with the adoption of digital technology. Two BLKKs—BLKK MSN and BLKK Girikesumo—managed to complete the whole programme.

To provide similar benefits to more BLKs in Indonesia, the Ministry of Manpower will replicate this programme for other BLKs, encouraging them to develop strategic partnership with industries and to organise skills training that are relevant with nearby industries."

Budi Hartawan, Director General, Vocational Training and Productivity, Ministry of Manpower
Both BLKKs successfully delivered blended training programme on cell phone reparation, exploring different issues that were most relevant for their surrounding community and industry. BLKK MSN, for example, selected Koi fish farming, while BLKK Girikesumo conducted a garment operator training after securing a collaboration with one of the biggest garment industries in Central Java, PT Ungaran Sari Garment.

The pilot programme concluded with the transformation of the two BLKKs through the adoption of digital technology and novel training management system. Appreciating the results of the pilot programme, the Ministry of Manpower planned to replicate the programme to other BLKs in the country.

“To provide similar benefits to more BLKs in Indonesia, the Ministry of Manpower will replicate this programme for other BLKs, encouraging them to develop strategic partnership with industries and to organise skills training that are relevant with nearby industries,” stated Budi Hartawan, Director General, Vocational Training and Productivity, Ministry of Manpower.

Navitri Putri Guillaume, ILO’s Project Officer for Employment and Livelihood Project, said that the adoption of digital technology marks the new transformation of BLKs and BLKKs in providing high-quality and relevant online/blended learning at every corner of Indonesia.

“We hope that after this programme, BLKKs continue to maintain their transformation process to become independent, professional training providers, facilitators and managers, who can identify and make the best use of the opportunities on skills training needs of local industries and communities,” she said.

The Employment and Livelihood project is a joint United Nations (UN) initiative funded by the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UN-MTPF). Organized by the ILO and other three UN agencies, the project aims to support women and vulnerable groups in Indonesia that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.