Mataram, University of Mataram — The University of Mataram convened a Workshop on Migrant Center Establishment on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Senate Conference Room. This initiative marks an important first step in building a service hub dedicated to improving the quality and protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, particularly those from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

The workshop was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Mataram, Prof. Dr. Sitti Hillyana, M.Sc. In her remarks, she emphasized that migrant worker issues are a crucial component of human resource development in NTB. She further highlighted the vital role of universities in addressing these challenges. With approximately 1,500 lecturers across diverse fields of expertise, the University of Mataram is considered to have significant capacity to support the strengthening of human resources in the region.

She also noted that West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is one of the largest migrant worker hubs in Indonesia, ranking fourth nationally. However, the quality of migrant workers remains a challenge, particularly in terms of qualifications and protection while working abroad.

“We must ensure two key aspects: the protection of migrant workers and the enhancement of their skills. If these two elements progress hand in hand, they will form a strong foundation for the future of our migrant workers,” she emphasized.

As a form of commitment, Unram expressed its readiness to support the establishment of a Migrant Center, envisioned as an integrated service hub. The center is expected to play a vital role in providing maximum protection while simultaneously enhancing the competencies of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), enabling them to compete more effectively in the international labor market.

“We hope that this Migrant Center can serve as both a protection hub and a skills development platform for migrant workers, ensuring they are better prepared to compete in the global job market,” she added.

During the workshop, the Director of Vocational Institutional Development at the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (KP2MI), Abri Dana Prabawa, SE, M.PA, presented the concept of a Migrant Center through the approach “From Campus to the Global Market.”

He explained that the development of Indonesian Migrant Workers must be carried out through an integrated vocational ecosystem from upstream to downstream starting from talent sources (vocational high schools, vocational institutions, universities), followed by training and skills enhancement, national and international certification, and continuing through to placement and protection. This approach ensures that migrant workers are not only job‑ready but also equipped with recognized competencies and afforded proper protection.

The workshop also featured the Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans) of West Nusa Tenggara Province, Dr. H. Aidy Furqan, S.Pd., M.Pd., along with the Head of the Vocational Training and Productivity Center of East Lombok, Imran Tahir, S.Hut., M.Sc. Both presented insights on the current employment landscape and the skills required in today’s labor market.

Through this workshop, it is expected that synergy will be built among universities, government agencies, vocational institutions, and related stakeholders in supporting the establishment of a Migrant Center at Unram. Moving forward, the presence of the Migrant Center is anticipated to serve as a concrete solution for improving the quality of human resources while simultaneously strengthening the protection of Indonesian migrant workers.