BANDUNG, polban.ac.id — In a major step toward fostering international academic and industrial synergy, Politeknik Negeri Bandung (POLBAN) officially entered into a strategic partnership with the Handwerkskammer Dortmund (Chamber of Skilled Crafts Dortmund), Germany, on February 23, 2025. Marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), this collaboration aims to establish a sustainable framework for vocational training, knowledge exchange, and workforce mobility between Indonesia and Germany. This collaboration also represents a pioneering initiative between POLBAN and Handwerkskammer Dortmund through the implementation of a Recognition Partnership, a program based on the mutual recognition of degrees and professional qualifications. By adopting this framework, both institutions aim to facilitate transparent qualification recognition, strengthen academic and vocational mobility, and create more accessible pathways for Indonesian graduates to pursue further training and professional careers in Germany.
Tobias Schmidt, the Managing Director of Education Centers at Handwerkskammer Dortmund, personally visited the POLBAN campus in Bandung to engage in a series of intensive workshops and concrete discussions, ensuring a solid foundation for this cross-continental alliance.
- Strategic Alignment in HVAC Excellence
The partnership leverages POLBAN’s well-known reputation for excellence, particularly through its Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering (Teknik Refrigerasi dan Tata Udara). Recognizing POLBAN’s strong track record in producing high-caliber technical graduates, Handwerkskammer Dortmund aims to create a mutual learning ecosystem where both institutions can share breakthroughs in cooling and climate control technologies.
“Both sides want to and can learn from each other,” Schmidt noted during his visit, highlighting that this partnership is a two-way street of technical innovation and pedagogical advancement.
Workshop on Sustainable Migration and Dual Vocational Training
As part of the initial phase of this cooperation, POLBAN, Handwerkskammer Dortmund, and the Indonesian industrial mobility organization BP3MI Jawa Barat co-hosted a specialized workshop titled “Sustainable Migration into Dual Vocational Training in Germany.”
The seminar focused heavily on delivering practical, real-world solutions and fostering a direct exchange of knowledge. The main objectives of this initiative include:
- Creating Clear and Safe Pathways: Establishing structured, transparent, and legally sound migration routes for Indonesian technical talents to pursue advanced qualifications in Germany.
- Implementing the Dual System: Adapting Germany’s renowned dual vocational training system (Duale Ausbildung) to align with POLBAN’s curriculum, ensuring students gain robust industrial experience.
- Opening Global Employment Perspectives: Equipping Indonesian youth with global-standard competencies, thereby opening up long-term career opportunities within the German labor market.
Shaping the Future of Labor Mobility
This international cooperation addresses the growing global demand for skilled HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) professionals, especially as both nations transition toward greener, more energy-efficient technologies. By connecting one of Indonesia’s premier polytechnics with Germany’s elite chamber of skilled crafts, this alliance sets a benchmark for ethical talent mobility and educational integration.
With the MoU now official and initial workshops successfully executed, both POLBAN and Handwerkskammer Dortmund look forward to continuous dialogue, joint training programs, and impactful results that will empower the next generation of global technicians. (as)
