Transforming vocational higher education on the path toward Golden Indonesia 2045

Abstract

Vocational education, especially at the higher education level, is highly valued these days since it is regarded as a means by which to reduce unemployment and increase national production—outcomes that both contribute to national wealth. Given Indonesia's demographic surplus, all stakeholders in the education system—particularly the government and institutions offering vocational higher education—should ensure the accessibility of vocational higher education and the quality of vocational curricula. Achieving this goal is expected to be a major turning point in Indonesia's development as a country. With consideration for these issues, this study examined Indonesia's options for transforming its vocational higher education sector on the basis of the literature and a case study. The findings indicate that the government must act immediately to persuade all relevant stakeholders, especially the business community, to collaborate with the vocational education sector and focus more intensively on elevating the quality of standards and curricula, bridging the skills gap, and promoting the growth and incubation of vocational programs in the industrial ecosystem. In addition, products and innovations can be incubated, tested, and accelerated for release into the market and society by using living laboratories as platforms and hubs for vocational and professional stakeholders. Based on Indonesia's success story, this study has practical implications for developing nations with little assistance and support from the private sector by serving as an alternative model for the development of vocational higher education.