Students need to strengthen their competencies and certification to face the world of work
Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker), Afriansyah Noor, emphasized the importance of strengthening education, competence and certification as the three key pillars that students must possess to face an increasingly dynamic working world.
This was conveyed when he was a speaker at the Mercubuana Competency Network (MBCN) National Seminar 2026 with the theme “The Urgency of Competency Certification for Students in Dealing with the World of Work” in Jakarta, Monday, June 8, 2026.
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Afriansyah explained that education is the most important foundation for building students’ knowledge, mindset and character. However, academic facilities alone are not sufficient to meet the needs of the ever-expanding working world.
He emphasized that competency and certification are important elements that complement formal education. Competency certification, he said, is a form of recognition of one’s capabilities according to established standards, and also increases the business community’s confidence in the quality of future employees.
“Amid rapid change, it is not enough for students to rely solely on a degree, but they must also possess competencies that match the needs of the industry and strengthen them through certification to be better prepared to compete in the working world,” Afriansyah said.
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Moreover, he encouraged students to use the college period as a space for self-development through various skill enhancement programs such as training, internships and competency tests.
“Turn your period of study into an opportunity to continue learning and sharpening your skills. Participate in training, internships and competency tests, because experience and recognition of competency will be an added value when entering the job market,” he said.
Afriansyah also stressed that strengthening human resources cannot be done partially but requires collaboration between government, universities, training institutions and industry to be in line with the needs of the working world.
According to him, education, competency and certification must go hand in hand to produce a superior and competitive workforce.
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“Education provides a strong foundation, competency shows the ability to work, while certification is proof that these skills meet established standards. These three aspects must go hand in hand to produce a superior Indonesian workforce,” Afriansyah said.
He added that strengthening these three aspects is expected to create a workforce that is adaptable, productive and ready to face changes, as well as strengthen Indonesia’s competitiveness at the global level. ***REL
