Building Partnerships: the S4P Collaboration Model
The Skills for Prosperity (S4P) programme in Indonesia developed partnerships between UK and Indonesian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in support of Indonesia’s national skills revitalisation agenda. This intervention has been conducted in close collaboration with the Government of Indonesia (GoI), including the Ministry of Education, Culture and Technology (MoCERT).
The programme’s four institutional partnerships were developed through a ‘S4P Collaboration Model’ between Indonesian HEIs (implementation partners), industry advisory boards, and international/UK HEI partners:
The use of regular consultative forums secured partners’ engagement and a stakeholder driven approach to activities. S4P Indonesia emphasised the importance of ILO’s robust procurement process in selecting partners that were aligned with, and committed to, project objectives. The sustainable impact of the partnership was significantly enhanced through a field visit to the UK in 2022, which enabled Indonesian HEI delegates and Government officials, to meet UK partners, including the four participating UK HEIs. The GoI contribution reflects its growing commitment to international engagement, which has been developed through the programme through agreements to send more officials for familiarisation and policy dialogues with UK partners and peers. The success of the field visit was reinforced through linking activities to the programmes three pillars (equity, quality and relevance) and the use of reporting processes and templates to capture lessons learnt.
In January 2023, ILO produced a post visit summary which captured valuable stakeholder perspectives. Kiki Yuliati, Director General MoCERT, explained how S4P Indonesia had strengthened education relationships between Indonesia and the UK. “By coming here, I hope our teachers can see and learn directly from the UK universities,” and “I also hope that people at the ministry office involved in policymaking can have an institutional knowledge exchange between Indonesia and partners here [in the UK], achieve pedagogical outcomes and explore the system.” Khairul Munadi, Indonesian Education Attaché to the UK referenced S4P’s role in promoting sector reform through his appreciation of his support from the UK government to the development of TVET in Indonesia. “We are certainly delighted to know that this programme is a part of the concrete actions of our bilateral agreement in education,” and “We do hope that this capacity building tour will help to strengthen our TVET system.” The summary document also captures the partnership’s impact on important delivery areas such as GESDI, learner orientated curriculum and employer engagement.
The results from the S4P Indonesia HEI partnerships have been impressive, including the development of approved study programmes, established international institutional partnerships and industry advisory boards, capacity building activities, teacher certification and digital platforms for online apprenticeships. The programme has facilitated positive GESI outcomes through institutional disability self-assessments, sexual harassment awareness raising and new policies. In terms of sustainability, the four UK HEI partners, in collaboration with Indonesian peers, remain committed, albeit at different levels of engagement, to continue to engage in HEI partnerships and develop the important outcomes that have emerged from this S4P intervention.
