Purworejo | January 29, 2026. Recognizing the growing importance of vocational education in preparing skilled and work-ready human resources, the Paguyuban Keluarga Purworejo (PAKUWOJO) recently organized a vocational education awareness program for senior high school (SMA) and vocational high school (SMK) students across Purworejo Regency.
The event was held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Pendopo of Purworejo Regency, and aimed to introduce students to vocational education pathways that emphasize practical skills, industry relevance, and strong employment prospects.
The program was attended by PAKUWOJO leaders, including Rendra Kusuma Wijaya, S.Pt., Chairman of PAKUWOJO; Dr. Romadi A. Kohar, S.E., M.M., Secretary General; and Drs. Suhardi, Vice Chairman. Also present were Prof. Istiningsih, a member of the PAKUWOJO Advisory Board and Vice Rector of Bhayangkara University, as well as Gigih Retno Wati, S.T., M.T., Coordinator for Maritime Affairs, Environment, and Agriculture at PAKUWOJO, who currently serves as Head of the Bureau of Procurement and State Asset Management at the Ministry of Transportation.
Representing the local government, Purworejo Regent Hj. Yuli Hastuti, S.H., attended the event along with the Head of the Purworejo Office of Education and Culture, Yudhie Agung Prihatno, S.STP., M.M.
In her remarks, Regent Yuli Hastuti emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between local governments and higher education institutions, particularly in expanding access to vocational education for local communities.
“We hope to establish educational collaborations that allow young people in Purworejo to pursue higher education without having to study far from their hometown,” the Regent stated.
She highlighted vocational education as a strategic pathway for improving the quality of local human resources and supporting regional development.
From the Vocational School of Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Dr. Moh. Ridwan attended the event together with lecturers and alumni from UNDIP’s Naval Architecture program. In his presentation, Dr. Ridwan encouraged students to consider vocational higher education as a means to acquire practical and industry-relevant skills.
“Vocational education is designed to equip students with strong practical competencies. We hope students from Purworejo will take advantage of this pathway to prepare themselves for future careers,” he explained.
The event also featured remarks from Toto Wirawan, an alumnus of UNDIP’s Naval Architecture program and a native of Purworejo. He shared his professional journey and highlighted the role of vocational education in shaping his career.
Previously, Toto Wirawan had also initiated boat-building training programs for local fishermen in Purworejo, demonstrating how vocational expertise can directly contribute to community empowerment.
A key outcome of the event was PAKUWOJO’s commitment to provide scholarships for students from Purworejo who are admitted to the Vocational School of Universitas Diponegoro. This initiative is expected to broaden access to vocational higher education for talented students from the region.
In a separate statement, Prof. Budiyono, Dean of the Vocational School of Universitas Diponegoro, welcomed the initiative and expressed strong support for the program.
“We highly appreciate PAKUWOJO’s initiative in promoting vocational education at the regional level. Collaboration between community organizations, local government, and universities is essential for developing skilled human resources that can make a real impact on society,” he said.
Through this initiative, PAKUWOJO, the Government of Purworejo Regency, and the Vocational School of UNDIP demonstrated a shared commitment to advancing vocational education as a key driver of inclusive and sustainable human resource development.