BANDUNG – Hundreds of students and members of the public packed the Multipurpose Building (GSG) of Widyatama University on Thursday, April 10th, 2025. They were enthusiastic about attending the Global Skills Expo, an event that broadened their horizons regarding training and career opportunities abroad. This event, which was initiated by the Bandung City Special Job Market (BKK) program, aimed to provide comprehensive information on international career paths through presentations from various institutions.
Opening the Door to International Careers for the Younger Generation
This event is a collaboration between the Bandung City BKK and the West Java Province Manpower and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans) , the Bandung City Manpower Office (Disnaker), and the West Java Education Office (Disdik). According to Dede Indra Cahyadi, one of the organizing committee members, the main objective of this event is to provide clear direction for high school, vocational school, and Islamic high school graduates who are often confused about what to do after graduation.
With this event, it is hoped that they will no longer be indecisive. “The goal is for high school, vocational school, and Islamic high school graduates to be able to pursue careers both domestically and abroad. Because many children are confused about where to go after graduation,” said Dede.
He stressed that this expo serves as a bridge connecting young job seekers with companies, universities such as Widyatama University, and trusted Job Training Institutions (LPK). In addition, Dede also stressed the importance of choosing the right and official channels to avoid fraud.
Furthermore, the Global Skills Expo presented a series of information sessions from several LPKs that specialize in sending workers and international internship programs.
Participants gained in-depth information about educational programs and career opportunities abroad, particularly in countries such as Germany and Japan. The information covered requirements, the registration process, and an overview of life and work culture in the destination countries, providing much-needed preparation.
Enthusiasm and Inspiration from Global Skills Expo Participants
The enthusiasm of the participants was evident from their positive responses. Reinata Aulia, a student from SMKN 1 Kota Bandung, felt that the material presented was very relevant and opened her eyes. “We got an idea of what it would be like to work abroad and how we can achieve our dreams, so don’t be afraid to dream,” she said. She also appreciated the relaxed yet informative delivery style that made it easy to understand.
In line with Reinata, Alpin Setiawan from SMK Putra Pajajaran 2 admitted that he gained new inspiration. “I think it was very inspiring because it taught us how to build a business and also how to work abroad. What interested me was that I was inspired to get even more ideas,” he said. For him, this event not only provided new knowledge but also an opportunity to network with important people in the industry.
On the other hand, Dewi Nurafa from SMK Negeri 1 Bandung highlighted the completeness of the information and the excitement of the event. According to her, the expo successfully packaged heavy information into something interesting with prize quizzes and musical entertainment. “My hope for the future is that we can achieve our dreams, for example, as we heard earlier, we must master foreign languages. If I can work abroad in the future, I can be proud of myself, my parents, and my country,” she said enthusiastically.
In conclusion, the Global Skills Expo 2025 is not just a ceremonial event, but a real platform that has a significant impact. The strategic collaboration between government agencies and educational institutions such as Widyatama University has proven to be capable of creating real opportunities for the younger generation. Therefore, it is hoped that this activity will continue and become a major driving force for students in Bandung to achieve success on the global stage.
