Students must strike a balance between technical and communication skills
Minister of Manpower Yassierli emphasized that vocational students need to master not only technical competencies but also social skills—such as communication, teamwork, negotiation, and adaptability—to prepare for the workforce.
“What we want is not someone who, for instance, can only code—programming morning, noon, and night—yet is unable to socialize within their team or interact with others. That is why social skills are important,” Minister Yassierli said during a public lecture at the Mitra Industri Polytechnic in Bekasi on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
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Yassierli stated that social skills should be cultivated as students prepare to enter the workforce, through learning processes and experiences that enable them to communicate with others. Skills in presentation, communication, teamwork, and negotiation are essential and require continuous development before students enter the job market.
In addition to preparing for professional competencies, Yassierli reminded students to foster a sense of community. He believes that higher education also plays a role in developing students who are capable of expressing their ideas and aspirations responsibly.
“Students must be the moral guardians of the nation. Speak up. Indonesia needs students who are engaged,” he said.
Yassierli noted that students’ courage to express their opinions is part of societal dynamics. However, criticism and aspirations should be voiced in a friendly, polite, and responsible manner. Therefore, Yassierli encouraged students to use their time at the university to build a broad foundation comprising technical competence, social skills, industry experience, organizational skills, and social awareness.
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“Hopefully, in three or four years, when you enter the workforce, you will not only be ready to work but also capable of further developing the industry. And hopefully, future leaders will emerge from this,” he said.
During his speech, Yassierli praised the learning approach at Mitra Industri Polytechnic, which offers students the opportunity to gain experience through projects and industry networking.
He is convinced that this experience enables students to simultaneously test and develop their technical competencies and social skills.
“Seize this opportunity, stay focused, and do not waste it. I am certain that you will learn a great deal here and acquire diverse competencies and experiences before you graduate,” he concluded. ***rel
Mahasiswa Perlu Seimbangkan Keahlian Teknis dan Kemampuan Komunikasi
Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Yassierli menekankan, mahasiswa pendidikan kejuruan tidak hanya menguasai kompetensi teknis, tetapi juga human skills seperti kemampuan komunikasi, kerja sama tim, negosiasi, dan adaptasi sebagai bekal memasuki dunia kerja.
“Yang kita inginkan bukan orang yang misalnya hanya menguasai coding saja. Pagi, siang, sore, malam, coding. Tetapi dia tidak bisa bergaul dalam tim kerjanya, tidak berinteraksi dengan lainnya. Oleh karenanya, human skills ini penting,” kata Menaker Yassierli saat memberikan Kuliah Umum di Politeknik Mitra Industri, Bekasi, Rabu, 16 September 2026.
Yassierli mengatakan human skills perlu dilatih sejak mahasiswa melalui proses pembelajaran dan pengalaman yang memungkinkan mereka berinteraksi dengan orang lain. Kemampuan presentasi, komunikasi, kerja sama tim, dan negosiasi menjadi bagian yang perlu terus dilatih sebelum mahasiswa memasuki dunia kerja.
Selain menyiapkan kompetensi kerja, Yassierli mengingatkan mahasiswa agar membangun kepedulian terhadap persoalan masyarakat. Menurutnya, pendidikan tinggi juga memiliki peran dalam membentuk mahasiswa yang mampu menyampaikan gagasan dan aspirasi secara bertanggung jawab.
“Mahasiswa harus menjadi garda moral bangsa. Silakan speak up. Indonesia membutuhkan mahasiswa yang peduli,” katanya.
Yassierli mengatakan keberanian mahasiswa menyampaikan pandangan merupakan bagian dari dinamika kehidupan masyarakat. Namun, kritik dan aspirasi perlu disampaikan dengan sikap yang baik, sopan, dan bertanggung jawab.
Karena itu, Yassierli mendorong mahasiswa memanfaatkan masa perkuliahan untuk membangun bekal yang utuh, mulai dari kompetensi teknis, human skills, pengalaman industri, kemampuan berorganisasi, hingga kepedulian sosial.
“Semoga tiga atau empat tahun lagi, saat Anda hadir ke industri, Anda bukan hanya siap bekerja, tetapi juga mampu mengembangkan industri. Dan semoga dari sini juga lahir pemimpin-pemimpin masa depan,” katanya.
Dalam kesempatan tersebut, Yassierli mengapresiasi pendekatan pembelajaran di Politeknik Mitra Industri yang memberikan kesempatan kepada mahasiswa memperoleh pengalaman melalui proyek dan jejaring dengan industri.
Menurutnya, pengalaman tersebut dapat menjadi ruang bagi mahasiswa untuk menguji sekaligus mengembangkan kompetensi teknis dan human skills secara bersamaan.
“Manfaatkan kesempatan itu, fokus dan jangan disia-siakan. Saya yakin di sini Anda belajar dan sebelum lulus sudah punya berbagai kompetensi dan pengalaman,” pungkasnya. ***rel
