Factors Influencing Vocational High School Graduates' Pathways to Higher Education, Civil Service, and Entrepreneurship: A Study in the East Coast Region of Aceh

English

Authors

  • Syukurdi M Universitas Sumatera Utara Author
  • Badaruddin Universitas Sumatera Utara Author
  • Suwardi Lubis Universitas Sumatera Utara Author
  • Charloq Universitas Sumatera Utara Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70471/3d11jn20

Keywords:

Vocational education, higher education pathways, public service careers, entrepreneurship, labor market alignment, Aceh graduates, regional development

Abstract

Vocational high school graduates in the East Coast Region of Aceh face notable challenges in deciding whether to continue their education or enter the workforce. This study analyzes the factors influencing their decisions to pursue higher education, careers in public service (police, military, civil service), or entrepreneurship. A Simple Linear Regression analysis reveals that 92.43% of graduates opt for higher education or public service roles, while 54.45% choose entrepreneurship. The preference for higher education and public service is driven by the desire for socioeconomic mobility, with familial and environmental influences playing critical roles. The findings highlight the need for targeted policies to address the low entrepreneurial interest among vocational graduates, particularly by reducing barriers such as lack of resources and mentorship. Aligning vocational training programs with labor market demands can better support graduates in making informed career decisions. These insights contribute to improving vocational education outcomes and fostering regional economic development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Allais, S. (2012). Will skills save us? Rethinking the relationships between vocational education, skills development policies, and social policy in South Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(5), 632–642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.01.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.01.001

Aprianto, D. (2013). Hubungan sumber daya manusia terhadap tingkat pengangguran. Prosiding PESAT, 5, 8–9.

Bacigalupo, M., Kampylis, P., Punie, Y., & Van den Brande, G. (2016). EntreComp: The entrepreneurship competence framework. Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2791/593884

Beck, T., & Demirguc-Kunt, A. (2006). Small and medium-size enterprises: Access to finance as a growth constraint. Journal of Banking & Finance, 30(11), 2931–2943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2006.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2006.05.009

Billett, S. (2011). Vocational education: Purposes, traditions and prospects. Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1954-5

Bosma, N., Hessels, J., Schutjens, V., Van Praag, M., & Verheul, I. (2012). Entrepreneurship and role models. Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(2), 410–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2011.03.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2011.03.004

Bruton, G. D., Khavul, S., Siegel, D., & Wright, M. (2015). New financial alternatives in seeding entrepreneurship: Microfinance, crowdfunding, and peer-to-peer innovations. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(1), 9–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12143

BPS Kabupaten Aceh Timur. (2023). Kabupaten Aceh Timur dalam angka 2023. Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Aceh Timur.

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE.

Dixit, P., & Ravichandran, R. (2023). The impact of vocational education on economic growth and development across the G20 countries. Indian Journal of Vocational Education, 35, 45–67.

Fayolle, A., & Gailly, B. (2015). The impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial attitudes and intention: Hysteresis and persistence. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(1), 75–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12065 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12065

Handoyo, S., Suharman, H., Ghani, E. K., & Soedarsono, S. (2023). A business strategy, operational efficiency, ownership structure, and manufacturing performance: The moderating role of market uncertainty and competition intensity and its implication on open innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 9(2), 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100039

Hariram, N. P., Mekha, K. B., Suganthan, V., & Sudhakar, K. (2023). Sustainalism: An integrated socio-economic-environmental model to address sustainable development and sustainability. Sustainability, 15(13), 10682. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310682 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310682

ILO. (2020). Global employment trends for youth 2020: Technology and the future of jobs. International Labour Organization.

Irwanto, I. (2022). Tinjauan secara deskriptif teori Prosser dalam rangka meningkatkan kualitas kurikulum di Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan di Indonesia. Science Education National Conference, 447–462. https://doi.org/10.21107/nser.v0i0.17879

Kogan, I., & Unt, M. (2005). Transition from school to work in transition economies. European Societies, 7(2), 219–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616690500083635 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14616690500083428

Kristiansen, S., & Pratikno. (2006). Decentralising education in Indonesia. International Journal of Educational Development, 26(5), 513–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2005.12.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2005.12.003

Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00033-0[1] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00033-0

Kusumaningrum, D. E. (2022). Vocational education and regional economic development: Evidence from Indonesia. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 74(3), 412–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2020.1862189

Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45(1), 79–122. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027

Lerner, J. S., Li, Y., Valdesolo, P., & Kassam, K. S. (2015). Emotion and decision making. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 799–823. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043

Li, L. (2022). Reskilling and upskilling the future-ready workforce for Industry 4.0 and beyond. Information Systems Frontiers, 26, 1243–1258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10308-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10308-y

Liñán, F., & Fayolle, A. (2015). A systematic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions: Citation, thematic analyses, and research agenda. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(4), 907–933. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0356-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0356-5

Lubis, S. N., & Lubis, A. A. R. D. (2024). Enhancing Indonesian coffee trade: Strategies for navigating and reducing trade barriers. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 7(3), 1248–1267. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v7i3.3231 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v7i3.3231

Lubis, Z. (2024). Vocational education policy reforms in Indonesia: Challenges and opportunities. Indonesian Journal of Educational Policy, 12(1), 45–62.

Lubis, S. N., Menglikulov, B., Shichiyakh, R., Farrux, Q., Ugli, B. O. K., Karimbaevna, T. M., Ulugbek, K., Bakhtiyarovna, S. Z., Khabiba, J., Sapaev, I. B., & Jasur, S. (2024). Temporal and spatial dynamics of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prevalence in Akmola Province, Kazakhstan: Implications for disease management and control. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 22(2), 431–442. https://doi.org/10.22124/CJES.2024.7734

Manning, C., & Roesad, K. (2007). The manpower law of 2003 and its implementing regulations: Genesis, key articles and potential impact. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 43(1), 59–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/00074910701286658 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00074910701286396

Martin, B. C., McNally, J. J., & Kay, M. J. (2013). Examining the formation of human capital in entrepreneurship: A meta-analysis of entrepreneurship education outcomes. Journal of Business Venturing, 28(2), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.03.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2012.03.002

Maurer, M., & Sachs, S. (2015). Implementing the rights of indigenous peoples: The role of international business. Business & Society, 54(3), 389–413. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650312459450

Nabi, G., Liñán, F., Fayolle, A., Krueger, N., & Walmsley, A. (2017). The impact of entrepreneurship education in higher education: A systematic review and research agenda. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 16(2), 277–299. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2015.0026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2015.0026

Nugroho, B. A. S., Yoto, Y., & Widiyanti, W. (2021). Relevansi Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan terhadap potensi daerah. Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan, 6(8), 1175. https://doi.org/10.17977/jptpp.v6i8.14945 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17977/jptpp.v6i8.14945

Nurlina, N., Andiny, P., & Sari, M. (2019). Analisis sektor unggulan Aceh bagian Timur. Jurnal Samudra Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 10(1), 23–37. https://doi.org/10.33059/jseb.v10i1.1122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33059/jseb.v10i1.1122

Ratnawati, T. (2019). Vocational education and youth employment in Indonesia: Challenges and policy implications. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 39(2), 240–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2019.1621799

Rizkiyah, A. (2015). Penerapan blended learning untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa pada mata pelajaran Ilmu Bangunan di kelas X TGB SMK Negeri 7 Surabaya. Jurnal Kajian Pendidikan Teknik Bangunan, 1(1), 40–49.

Shane, S., & Venkataraman, S. (2000). The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review, 25(1), 217–226. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2000.2791611 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2000.2791611

St-Jean, É., & Audet, J. (2012). The role of mentoring in the learning development of the novice entrepreneur. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 8(1), 119–140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-009-0130-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-009-0130-7

Tripney, J., Hombrados, J., Newman, M., Hovish, K., Brown, C., Steinka-Fry, K., & Wilkey, E. (2013). Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) interventions to improve the employability and employment of young people in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 9(1), 1–171. https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2013.9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2013.9

UNESCO. (2016). Continental strategy for technical and vocational education and training (TVET). UNESCO.

Weng, X., Chiu, T. K. F., & Tsang, C. C. (2022). Promoting student creativity and entrepreneurship through real-world problem-based maker education. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 45, 101046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2022.101046 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2022.101046

Wicaksana, B. E., Muhaimin, A., & Koestiono, D. (2013). Analisis sikap dan kepuasan petani dalam menggunakan benih kentang bersertifikat (Solanum tuberosum L.). Habitat, 62(13), 1–9.

World Bank. (2020). Indonesia economic prospects: Strengthening competitiveness. World Bank Group.

Published

2026-02-28

How to Cite

M, S., Badaruddin, Lubis, S., & Charloq. (2026). Factors Influencing Vocational High School Graduates’ Pathways to Higher Education, Civil Service, and Entrepreneurship: A Study in the East Coast Region of Aceh: English. Asian Multidisciplinary Research Journal of Economy and Learning, 3(2), 01-12. https://doi.org/10.70471/3d11jn20