inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Vice Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor encouraged students to strengthen their competencies, education, and certification before facing the increasingly dynamic world of work.

Afriansyah explained that education is the main foundation in building students' knowledge, mindset, and character. 

"However, academic qualifications alone are not enough to meet the needs of the ever-evolving world of work," said Afriansyah on Tuesday (6/9/2026).

He emphasized that competency and certification are essential elements that complement formal education. 

Competency certification serves as a form of recognition of a person's abilities according to established standards, while also improving the business world's confidence in the quality of prospective workers.

"In the midst of such rapid change, students cannot simply rely on diplomas; they also need to possess competencies that align with industry needs and strengthen them through certification to be better prepared to compete in the world of work," explained Afriansyah.

Furthermore, he encouraged students to utilize their time at university as a space for self-development through various skills-enhancing programs, such as training, internships, and competency tests.

"Use your college years as an opportunity to continue learning and hone your skills. Participate in training, internships, and competency tests, because experience and recognition of your competencies will be an added value when entering the job market," he concluded.

Furthermore, Afriansyah emphasized that strengthening human resources cannot be done in isolation but requires collaboration between the government, universities, training institutions, and industry to align with the needs of the workforce.

According to him, education, competency, and certification must go hand in hand to produce a superior and competitive workforce.

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