Evaluate the Vocational School Graduate's Work-readiness in Indonesia from the Perspectives of Soft skills, Roles of Teacher, and Roles of Employer

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been a widening disparity in the abilities required for various skills, and employees are expected to possess the necessary requirements in this age of technology and industrial advancement. Education institutions around the globe face a formidable task in meeting this demand for skilled workers. Therefore, this research discusses the perspective of vocational education students on job readiness. A quantitative survey of nine soft skill indicators of vocational education students was conducted. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted on an online survey of 530 students from 29 vocational schools across Indonesia. The data focuses on the soft skills currently attracting industry interest. Furthermore, soft skills are closely related to student work readiness, while vocational education learning only focuses on developing hard skills. Based on the needs of the industry, soft skills are progressively becoming essential qualifications. Therefore, vocational education needs to include soft skills in learning objectives, and the research reported five strong and three weak indicators. Soft skills can be increased through integrated and effective learning. This study's findings are that six indicators of soft skills have been developed enormously, and three other hands are weak. The presence of employers in the learning process is beneficial in developing soft skills for work readiness.

The Impact of Technological Transformation on Career Choices in the Stem Sector

“…Increased interest and competence in STEM fields plays an important role in shaping students' career aspirations (Pignault et al, 2022). According to recent data, students who show greater interest and have higher competence in STEM subjects tend to have stronger career aspirations in those fields (Wahyudi et al, 2023). This is in line with career development theory, which states that interests and competencies are key factors in career selection.…”

“…Competency improvement, in particular, is directly correlated with job readiness (Wahyudi et al, 2023) and students' career aspirations (Ennerberg et al, 2022). These competencies include technical skills and knowledge in STEM fields, as well as soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.…”

“…The use of technology in education has inspired students to explore STEM fields in more creative and innovative ways. The introduction of technologies such as virtual reality (VR) in STEM learning provides an immersive and interactive learning experience (Wahyudi et al, 2023). This not only helps students understand complex concepts better but also increases their curiosity and exploration.…”

The Role of Mediation of Work Motivation in Determining Working Readiness of Vocational School Students

“…Work competence is individual workability which includes aspects of knowledge, skills, and work attitudes in accordance with predetermined standards (Lukertina & Lisnatiawati, 2020;Wardani et al, 2021). If vocational schools want graduates with expertise that can meet the requirements of the business world industry, vocational schools must really focus on hard skills with valid theory (Wahyudi et al, 2023). However, in reality, the competence of 12 th grade vocational students in 3 Yogyakarta vocational schools is still said to be lacking in being ready to work, because these students were still unsure when asked by researchers who carried out initial observations.…”