SMKN 1 Cimahi Hosts DAIKIN’s First Center of Excellence for Vocational Schools in West Java

Cimahi – PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia (DAIKIN) officially inaugurated the DAIKIN Center of Excellence at SMKN 1 Cimahi today (June 11). As DAIKIN’s first Center of Excellence for vocational high schools in West Java, this launch underscores the Japanese air conditioning solutions provider’s commitment to playing a more active role in developing Indonesia’s vocational education sector.

“Building on our ongoing school collaborations, this DAIKIN Center of Excellence is specifically designed to deliver substantial benefits in enhancing student competencies, particularly in refrigeration and air conditioning,” stated Budi Mulia, Director of PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia, during his address. He further noted that with this inauguration, DAIKIN now operates two DAIKIN Centers of Excellence for vocational schools across Indonesia.

The DAIKIN Center of Excellence at SMKN 1 Cimahi occupies a dedicated room within the school building. Resembling a standard classroom, the front area features a whiteboard and projector. Moving further inside, visitors will find rows of shelving units housing installed DAIKIN AC units. These include residential Single-Split ACs as well as DAIKIN SkyAir ACs designated for commercial buildings. The walls are adorned with informational posters covering various aspects of air conditioning (AC) technology and maintenance.

The establishment of the DAIKIN Center of Excellence aligns with the company’s broader efforts to expand its role in supporting vocational schools. Beyond sporadic initiatives, this commitment was formally solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) of the Republic of Indonesia, signed on July 25, 2019.

In line with the MoU, DAIKIN has collaborated with numerous vocational education institutions through curriculum alignment, industry certification programs for teachers and students, guest lectures, fieldwork internships, and donations of practical training units to support hands-on learning. Since then, DAIKIN has established partnerships with 37 vocational high schools (SMKs) and 8 Vocational Training Centers (BLKs) nationwide.

“The establishment of this Center of Excellence serves as a natural continuation of our collaborative efforts,” added Budi Mulia. It aims to consolidate existing successful initiatives while evolving into a dedicated training hub and assessment center aligned with the standards of the National Occupational Skills Certification Agency (BNSP) in the future.

Furthermore, DAIKIN hopes that the center will extend its benefits beyond SMKN 1 Cimahi, serving as a shared training and testing hub for partner schools and regional refrigeration and air conditioning associations in the Cimahi area. “Higher competency levels among aspiring professionals, particularly in refrigeration and air conditioning, create greater opportunities for industries to access top-tier talent. This is a fundamental driver of corporate advancement,” Budi Mulia emphasized.

For DAIKIN itself, such qualified professionals are crucial to supporting daily operations. As the leading provider of air conditioning solutions in Indonesia, DAIKIN currently operates 16 representative offices spanning various regions across the country.

Complementing this network, DAIKIN works with approximately 1,400 business partners to support product distribution and service delivery. Additionally, Budi Mulia highlighted that next year will mark a new phase for DAIKIN in Indonesia, driven by the company’s strategic plan to commence domestic AC manufacturing through a new production facility currently under construction in Cikarang. “This expansion clearly illustrates the immense demand for skilled professionals in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector,” he concluded.

Welcoming the official inauguration, Agus Priyatmono Nugroho, Principal of SMKN 1 Cimahi, echoed these sentiments. He expressed hope that the growing synergy between the school and DAIKIN will continue to flourish. “We greatly welcome this industry partnership that has led to the establishment of the Center of Excellence. We look forward to seeing this collaboration deepen and expand in the years ahead,” said Agus Priyatmono Nugroho.