PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen vocational education and prepare industry-aligned human resources continue to expand. Most recently, the Japanese HVAC solutions provider officially inaugurated the DAIKIN Center of Excellence at SMKN 2 Pekanbaru on August 6.
As the eighth DAIKIN Center of Excellence established at a vocational high school, this inauguration holds special significance as it marks the first such center across the entire Sumatra region. “This inauguration serves as a strong symbol of our commitment to continuously expand the DAIKIN Center of Excellence network, supporting competency enhancement in vocational education institutions,” stated Budi Mulia, Vice President Director of PT Daikin Airconditioning Indonesia.
As one of Daikin’s social initiatives in education, the establishment of these centers at vocational schools represents a sustained partnership with high schools specializing in refrigeration and HVAC. Previously, Daikin has collaborated with relevant vocational institutions through curriculum enrichment, industry certification programs for teachers and students, guest instructor training sessions led by Daikin experts, and on-the-job field practice opportunities.
The DAIKIN Center of Excellence facility at SMKN 2 Pekanbaru occupies a two-story building divided into practical workshop areas and theory classrooms. The practical laboratory is equipped with a wide range of Daikin HVAC systems and air conditioners designed for both residential and commercial applications. This diverse selection of Daikin AC units is specifically curated to ensure students gain hands-on learning experiences based on the latest technologies used in the industry.
Meanwhile, enhancements to the theory classrooms focus on providing comprehensive student learning support materials. “These improvements to the building and learning facilities reinforce our ongoing commitment to sustaining the collaboration through various competency development programs previously implemented,” added Budi Mulia.
Furthermore, Budi Mulia envisions that the DAIKIN Center of Excellence at SMKN 2 Pekanbaru will deliver impact beyond just enhancing student competencies. It will also serve as a supportive hub for expanding knowledge and skills among educators and technicians operating throughout the Pekanbaru region.
He noted that this vision aligns with the continued high demand for skilled technicians and experts, driven by the growing HVAC industry and AC market in Indonesia. Having operated in Indonesia for over five decades, Daikin is supported by 16 representative offices connected to approximately 1,400 dealer partners nationwide. Notably, in 2024, Daikin began operations at its newly established production facility in Cikarang, West Java. As Indonesia’s first full-scale residential AC manufacturing plant, the facility handles the entire production process from raw material processing to finished goods.
“The continuous growth of the HVAC industry makes collaboration between business and education crucial. We aim to create a symbiotic relationship for mutual growth, building human resource competencies that will ultimately meet industry labor demands and enhance national industrial competitiveness,” Budi Mulia emphasized.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Kamal Majdi, S.Pd., Principal of SMKN 2 Pekanbaru, warmly welcomed the DAIKIN Center of Excellence. He described its establishment as a concrete step toward strengthening industry-based learning quality within the school.
“We appreciate Daikin’s trust in SMKN 2 Pekanbaru. The arrival of the DAIKIN Center of Excellence is expected to further strengthen the competencies of both students and teaching staff, while delivering a learning process increasingly aligned with industry needs,” said Kamal Majdi. “We hope this synergy will continue to thrive in the years ahead,” he concluded.
