Certification Competency test is one of the requirements of VHS graduates and the gap between theory and phenomenon in this test evaluation is rarely carried out. The objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation of Certification Competency Test of VHS. A thorough evaluative method with Discrepancy Evaluation Model (DEM) was implemented through observation, and document study. Then, a questionnaire was developed to collect the data from 13 VHS as the population and sample. The data analysed descriptively fell into some categories as the finding of this research such as design, installation, process, product shared very good achievement with score 31.53 (100%), 57.4 (88.51%), 39.64 (87.52%), and 43.87 (89.22%) respectively.  The overall score denoted very good category with average gained score 172.44 (91.32%). In conclusion, the certification competency exam requires more maximum improvement despite the recent achievement. Good cooperation is needed from all parties, such as the provincial level national exam implementers, schools, partner institutions, supervisors, parents/community and students so as to fulfill the gap so that the certification competency test results will be even better.

The number of students interested in attending Vocational High School (VHS) has increased year by year. However, the quality of graduates is at low level and the unemployment rate of VHS graduates accounts for largest proportion among other levels. According to some previous research, there have been the unemployment of the Business Management Vocational High School graduates. This study aims to: (1) explore information related to the partnership management model currently in Vocational Schools; and (2) creating a partnership management model expected by the industry and work sector. The research method used was an instrumental case study. The object of this research was Methodist Vocational School and Nur Azizi Vocational School, and the industry and work sector. Informants from the school are the principal, vice principal of curriculum, vice principal of student affairs, vice principal of infrastructure and facilities, vice principal of partnership relations, head of expertise program, head of principal, supervising teachers, and teachers of productive subjects. The subject of research in the industry and work sector was the field work practice instructor. Data collection techniques using interviews, documentation, and observation. The data analysis technique used was ATLAS.ti 9 software. The data validation was carried out by triangulation through Chief Section of Vocational School and the other related Vocational Schools. The results of the study indicated that (1) the partnership management model currently in Vocational Schools was still limited to planning, implementing, and evaluating students; and (2) the management model desired by the industry and work sector included guidelines for partnership, education and training standards, student guidance systems, skills testing standards, and student competency assessment standards. Keywords: Partnership Management, Mutual Benefit, Vocational High School

Vocational High Schools are educational institution aiming to prepare the ready-to-employ graduates by prioritizing their skill and expertise according to their areas of expertise (Azri, Irwan, & Nurul, 2020; Mukhlason, Winanti, & Yundra, 2020). Vocational High School is expected to play an important role in holistic human development and community development Indonesia entirely and reduce the number of early school leaver (Slamet, 2016; Diwangkoro & Soenarto, 2020; Farrugia & Martina, 2021). While the growth of employment in the industrial sector is growing slowly, the graduates of Vocational High Schools are increasing but the rate of joblessness of the Vocational Highs Schools graduates has become a critical issue in Indonesia (Erlinawati, 2020; Wijaya & Utami, 2021; Hanifah & Suharyanto, 2021). As a result, these Vocational High Schools graduates are not accommodated in the industrial sector and they become job seekers or open unemployment (Dewi, 2017; Yunikawati, Prayitno, Purboyo, Istiqomah, & Puspasari, 2018; Azman, Ambiyar, Simatupang, Karudin, & Dakhi, 2020). The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that in August 2021, the majority of unemployed people in Indonesia were dominated to 11.13% or 9.77 million by the graduates from Vocational High Schools (BPS, 2021). Most of the Vocational High Schools graduates intend to work immediately, but are not employed in the industry or business sector. This is due to the increase of Vocational High Schools graduates who are mismatched by job opportunities. Keywords: Dual Certification; Vocational High School; Employability