Bridging the skills gap in Indonesia : Unpacking a vocational and education training initiative for sustainable workforce development

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper set out to explore how an Indonesian organization addressed hiring and training challenges while contributing to society through a Vocational and Education Training (VET) program. The VET intervention, “Project VALERIE,” reduced costs, provided jobs for graduates, and addressed local youth unemployment. Embracing a strategic CSR approach aligned with organizational and societal goals, creating shared value for every stakeholder. Fostering collaborative industry-education partnerships in this way bridged skill gaps and created a reliable talent pipeline. It’s a great example of a strategic win-win approach that other HR teams can replicate. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.