A

s a former practitioner in several large companies, I know how hard it is for students and colleges (universities) to access businesses and industries.

Students of colleges or universities are required to have access to the world of work for doing research, job training and managerial activities, which actually could benefit both the students and companies.

Unfortunately, however, the response of companies is usually not so encouraging.

Both parties actually need to work together on a massive and systemic way in an attempt to ensure the quality of human resources so that they are reliable for industry.

The troubled connection between businesses and formal education system may be a result of the absence of legislation that requires major companies to get involved in the development of human resources.

Meanwhile, businesses need to recruit graduates as members of the workforce and take an interest in improving the quality of human capacity through education.

Representatives of all parties, businesses, legislators, government and universities should sit down together to resolve the problems, particularly the disconnection between higher education and the business world.

Aries Musnandar
Malang, East Java