Daikin Inaugurates Center of Excellence at SMK NU Ma’arif Kudus

PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia (DAIKIN) continues to strengthen its tangible commitment to improving the quality of vocational education. Through its program to establish Centers of Excellence at various vocational high schools, the century-old Japanese air conditioning specialist recently inaugurated its latest Center of Excellence at Nadhlatul Ulama Ma’arif Kudus Vocational High School (SMK) in Central Java (Nov 5).

Named the DAIKIN Center of Excellence, this inauguration marks Daikin’s third such center for SMKs in Central Java. Nationwide, the company—widely recognized for its air conditioner products—has now established six DAIKIN Centers of Excellence across both public and private vocational schools.

“The development of the DAIKIN Center of Excellence is a concrete manifestation of Daikin’s commitment to synergizing with the government for the advancement of vocational education competency,” stated Budi Mulia, Director of PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia. According to Budi Mulia, this collaboration is not sporadic; it is formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) of the Republic of Indonesia.

The DAIKIN Center of Excellence at SMK NU Ma’arif Kudus occupies two rooms within the school’s educational complex, specifically dedicated to HVAC instruction. With each room spanning 81 square meters, the hands-on practice areas are organized by AC type. One room houses a lineup of residential AC units, while the other is designated for commercial building air conditioning systems. Each practice room features neatly arranged racks equipped with installed DAIKIN AC devices. Functioning much like a traditional classroom, the spaces are also outfitted with whiteboards and instructor desks.

Beyond residential applications, the practice area includes specially designed racks for commercial-grade AC units. The entire setup is meticulously arranged to facilitate various hands-on exercises related to HVAC equipment, including installation processes, AC troubleshooting, and refrigerant recovery.

“Complementing these physical facility upgrades, Daikin has also prepared comprehensive programs to ensure tangible benefits in enhancing user competency,” added Budi Mulia. He expressed hope that the facility will not only benefit students but also help instructors elevate their expertise in the HVAC field.

According to Budi Mulia, Daikin’s competency enhancement programs cover multiple initiatives. These include curriculum enrichment, industry certification for teachers and students, specialized training sessions led by Daikin experts as guest instructors, and on-the-job training opportunities for both staff and students.

Furthermore, Budi Mulia emphasized his expectation that the DAIKIN Center of Excellence at SMK NU Ma’arif Kudus will extend its benefits beyond the school itself. He cited examples such as serving as a training hub for partner schools or local refrigeration and HVAC associations in the Kudus region.

Through broader utilization, he noted, this initiative will foster the growth of skilled refrigeration and HVAC professionals in Kudus and its surrounding areas. This, in turn, will create a mutually beneficial synergy between the industry and local talent pools.

“The higher the competency of prospective workers, the greater the opportunity for industry players to secure highly skilled human resources,” said Budi Mulia. He also highlighted that the demand for HVAC specialists remains substantial and continues to grow alongside Indonesia’s infrastructure development.

This sentiment is reflected in Daikin’s journey in Indonesia. Recognized globally as a century-old HVAC specialist and having operated in Indonesia for over 50 years, Daikin is known as a leading provider of air conditioning solutions in the country. To support its operations, Daikin maintains 16 representative offices across Indonesia and collaborates with approximately 1,400 business dealer partners.

Given this extensive reach, Budi Mulia mentioned that Daikin is currently preparing to establish a domestic manufacturing plant for residential AC units, utilizing a production facility under construction in Cikarang. Scheduled to commence operations next year, the new Daikin plant will operate on sustainability principles and is expected to create around 2,500 jobs.

“When calculating the total workforce requirements for the entire industry, the number remains exceptionally high. This includes related sectors such as installation services, maintenance, and repair,” explained Budi Mulia. This underscores why Daikin prioritizes the development and utilization of Centers of Excellence in vocational schools.

Arif Zaenal Mubarok, Principal of SMK NU Ma’arif Kudus, warmly welcomed the establishment of the DAIKIN Center of Excellence. “We appreciate Daikin’s collaboration in elevating vocational education quality, which has culminated in the creation of this Center of Excellence at our school,” said Arif.

During his speech at the inauguration, he echoed similar hopes for increased competency among students and instructors in refrigeration and HVAC.

“As the HVAC industry continues to evolve, so too must the underlying knowledge and skills required to support it. Ensuring that our students and faculty possess high-level competencies aligned with industry demands is our shared vision, and we hope this synergy will continue to strengthen in the future,” concluded Arif.