Prakerja Holds an International Conference with UNESCO

Jakarta – The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of The Republic Indonesia, through the PMO of Kartu Prakerja Program, will organize an international conference in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in Bali in early July 2023. This conference is part of UIL’s global agenda related to sustainable development goals (SDGs).

“The Kartu Prakerja Program has gained worldwide attention for its remarkable achievements in benefiting approximately 17 million Indonesians, particularly in providing opportunities for skill-development,” said Denni Puspa Purbasari, Executive Director of PMO of Kartu Prakerja, during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

The training scholarships provided by the Kartu Prakerja Program are concrete initiatives by the government to bridge the gap between workforce needs and availability. By participating in these trainings, the Indonesian workforce are afforded expanded opportunities.

Amidst the digital disruption, Prakerja aims to provide equal opportunities for all Indonesian citizens, from Sabang to Merauke, to access quality training “With the development of digital technology and collaboration among various stakeholders, especially the private sector, Prakerja has demonstrated that the majority of our participants come from rural areas,” said Denni.

Lifelong learning, Denni added, is a global issue that has been raised by the United Nations. From the 17 SDG pillars,  the pillar of quality education is the primary focus of Prakerja’s collaboration with UNESCO is “The duration for lifelong learning covers the longest span in a person’s life,” Denni said.

Echoing Denni’s sentiments, Zakki Gunawan, the National Program Officer for Education at UNESCO Jakarta, emphasized the role of various stakeholders in providing access to quality education for every citizen. “UNESCO itself consistently promotes adult learning,” he stated.

Zakki further added that Prakerja is an example of a comprehensive training ecosystem, involving multiple parties in its implementation, from organizers who engage various stakeholders to the participants. “They accommodate individuals from various backgrounds, making it an inclusive program,” Zakki said.

UNESCO, through the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, David Atchoarena, referred to Prakerja as a “game changer” this past February. Prakerja, under the auspices of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, subsequently took the initiative to actively participate in discussions on lifelong learning, including promoting lifelong learning.

The Prakerja International Conference in collaboration with UIL will take place in Bali from July 3 to 6, 2023 under the theme “Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference.” This conference is a continuation of CONFINTEA VII, which took place in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2022. During that event, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto attended the “Adult Learning & Education” session, in which the Kartu Prakerja Program was presented in front of more than 70 countries.

The ILLC conference in Bali aims to create an inclusive lifelong learning platform in line with the recommendations outlined in the Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA). It is expected that the Bali Declaration will serve as a joint commitment to promote lifelong learning.

Denni explained that so far, 28 countries have confirmed their attendance at the conference, which will be inaugurated by Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco have expressed great interest in participating. “One of the ministers who has confirmed attendance is the Minister of Education of Ecuador (Maria Brown Perez),” Denni concluded.

To know more about the conference, please check out this link.