MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia and BISA Ruang Nuswantara (BIRU) Collaborate to Launch an Industry-Standard Teaching Factory

As a tangible effort to strengthen competitiveness and enhance the skills of the young generations, social enterprise PT BISA Ruang Nuswantara (BIRU), together with Indonesia’s largest home improvement retailer, PT Daya Intiguna Yasa Tbk (MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia), launched a Teaching Factory program that integrates classroom learning with real industrial experience at SMKN 1 Katapang, Bandung Regency, West Java. This initiative is rooted in the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, preparing young people to become agents of change and future leaders. Such a strategic role can only be realized through comprehensive support from multiple stakeholders, particularly by ensuring access to quality education that sharpens potential and strengthens competitiveness.

The Teaching Factory program includes training on Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, teacher capacity building, and continuous support from BIRU and MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia. Its flagship product will be the Alugoro hammer (copper), a simple yet vital tool for the construction, mining, and manufacturing sectors. This product will be produced through a collaborative process that applies circular economic principles, utilizing recycled materials to create added value while reducing environmental impact. The program is designed to provide students with first-hand industry experience while also enabling them to obtain official certification.

Kanya Stira Sjahrir, Chief Executive Officer of BIRU, stated, “Together with MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia, BIRU reaffirms its vision of empowering the younger generation to be future-ready, globally competitive, and capable of contributing to long-term growth. This Teaching Factory serves as a blueprint for industry–education collaboration that creates skills, products, and tangible opportunities. By equipping students and teachers with competencies aligned with industry needs, we are preparing them for today’s jobs while laying the foundation for tomorrow’s workforce. We believe this model can be scaled nationally to drive more inclusive, sustainable growth with broad impact.”

The collaboration between BIRU and MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia also reflects their shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 4: Quality Education, as well as to circular economy principles increasingly adopted by global industries. More than just training, the Teaching Factory program integrates vocational learning with three months of hands-on industry experience, strengthening students’ skills and enhancing teachers’ capacity to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving labor market.

Edwin Cheah, President Director of MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia, said, ““MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia is committed to growing together with the Indonesian people in a sustainable way. We believe that developing Indonesia’s young generation is a shared responsibility. Our collaboration with BIRU is a clear demonstration of MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia’s commitment to nation-building through our role and capabilities. This inaugural partnership is also part of our flagship program, MR.D.I.Y. Untuk Indonesia. We hope this initiative will be well received by SMKN 1 Katapang, Bandung Regency, and help strengthen the competitiveness of competent and inclusive vocational graduates, while improving job readiness, fostering local innovation, and supporting sustainable economic growth.”

Dr. Edy Purwanto, M.M., Head of Vocational High School Development Division (PSMK), West Java Provincial Education Office, who attended the launch ceremony, stated, “We welcome the initiative of BIRU and MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia in presenting a Teaching Factory at SMKN 1 Katapang. This program is a concrete step toward equipping the younger generation with relevant skills early on, while also serving as a model for other schools to strengthen collaboration between education and industry. With support like this, we are optimistic that vocational graduates will be better prepared to compete and contribute to both regional and national development.”

SMKN 1 Katapang was selected to implement the Teaching Factory model because of its strong commitment to vocational education, openness to industry collaboration, and readiness to equip students with relevant skills while driving inclusive local growth. Hendra Hermansah, S.Pd., M.M., Acting Principal of SMKN 1 Katapang, said, “We are proud that SMKN 1 Katapang has been trusted to be a pioneer. This proves that schools in regional areas can also become centers of innovation for vocational education nationwide. We hope the success of this program will inspire other schools to collaborate with industry and create more opportunities for the younger generation across Indonesia.”

This collaboration not only provides a new learning space but also paves the way for young people to dream bigger and go further. BIRU and MR.D.I.Y. Indonesia believe that every positive initiative in vocational education is a form of support for the nation’s future.