Transformation of APHP SMK Baitul Izza Students from the Classroom to the Industrial World

Wihardana Jannati; Didik Nurhadi; Yoto Yoto

doi:10.17977/um025v10i12025p22

Transformation of APHP SMK Baitul Izza Students from the Classroom to the Industrial World

Wihardana Jannati, Didik Nurhadi, Yoto Yoto

Abstract

Abstract: This study aims to identify internship experiences as a means of developing hard and soft skills competencies among students of the Agribusiness of Agricultural Product Processing (APHP) expertise program at SMK Baitul Izza. This study employs a qualitative approach with a case study design, involving three twelfth-grade APHP students, one internship coordinator, one internship supervising teacher, and one industry mentor as the primary informants. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, which includes data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings show that internship activities contribute to the development of students’ technical competencies (hard skills). Students were able to apply theoretical knowledge acquired at school to industrial practice, master the use of modern tools and materials, and implement occupational health and safety (OHS) principles. In addition, internships also enhance non-technical competencies (soft skills), such as discipline, responsibility, teamwork, interpersonal communication, and adaptability to professional work environments. Overall, internships function as an effective form of contextual learning that bridges the gap between the educational environment and the industrial world. Through direct workplace experience, students not only become more proficient technically but also develop strong work character and readiness to compete in the labor market. Therefore, the implementation of internships at SMK Baitul Izza has proven to make a significant contribution to achieving the goals of vocational education—producing competent, professional, and competitive graduates in the modern industrial era.
Keywords: internship, hard skills, soft skills, work competence, vocational education

Full Text:

PDF

References

Alharethi, T., Awan, M. I., & Saleem, M. S. (2025). Investigating the impact of internship experience on work readiness among hospitality program students: the moderating role of student mindfulness. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1497721

Ariansyah, K., Wismayanti, Y. F., Savitri, R., Listanto, V., Aswin, A., Ahad, M. P. Y., & Cahyarini, B. R. (2024). Comparing labor market performance of vocational and general school graduates in Indonesia: insights from stable and crisis conditions. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 16, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-024-00160-6

Arinaitwe, D. (2021). Practices and strategies for enhancing learning through collaboration between vocational teacher training institutions and workplaces. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 13, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-021-00117-z

Cai, Z., Zhu, J., & Tian, S. (2022). Preservice teachers’ teaching internship affects professional identity: Self-efficacy and learning engagement as mediators. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1070763

Chen, Y., Li, S., & Chen, R. (2025). Impact of Industry and Education Integration on Skill Development in Vocational Education: Moderating Effects of Enterprise Engagement. Education Sciences, 15(10), 1316. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15101316

Chuang, Y.-T. (2022). The influence of motivation, self-efficacy, and fear of failure on the career adaptability of vocational school students: Moderated by meaning in life. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.958334

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches Fifth Edition. SAGE.

Curto-Reverte, A. (2025). The role of work-integrated learning in the European Higher Education Area. Review of Education. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.70114

De Carlo, E. (2025). Soft Skills as a Tool for Post-Pandemic Sustainability: A University-Based Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111752

Dewi, P. Y. A. (2020). Perilaku School Bullying Pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar. Edukasi: Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar, 1(1). https://jurnal.stahnmpukuturan.ac.id/index.php/edukasi/article/view/526/431

Díaz, B. (2025). A scaffolding model for designing and implementing work-integrated learning experiences based on the analysis of the university and company’s arrangements. Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-025-01442-y

Dionne, L. (2024). Articulating the supervisory functions of university supervisors in vocational education and training teaching internships within a blended-learning system. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1331348

Feng, Y., Zhang, Z., Zeng, X., & Liu, Y. (2023). The influence of internship satisfaction and the psychological contract on the career identity behavior of fresh graduates. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1294799

Gutiérrez-Pulido, H., & Orozco-Rodríguez, C. (2025). Exploring the contribution of professional internships to the integral development of emerging adults in higher education. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1563361

Hanssen, G., & Utvær, B. K. (2022). Sense of coherence among apprentices in vocational education and training in Norway: exploring general resistance resources in work-based learning. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 9(3), 363–389. https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.9.3.4

Haojie, L. (2025). The impact of internship experience and career aspirations on academic performance: a study of railway electrical automation students in China. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1652869

Hu, S. (2025). Big five personality traits and employability: The mediating role of internship attitudes among Chinese vocational students. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329103

Inderanata, R. N., & Sukardi, T. (2023). Investigation study of integrated vocational guidance on work readiness of mechanical engineering vocational school students. Heliyon, 9(2), e13333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13333

Insfran-Rivarola, A., Tlapa, D., Limon-Romero, J., Baez-Lopez, Y., Miranda-Ackerman, M., Arredondo-Soto, K., & Ontiveros, S. (2020). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Food Safety and Hygiene Training on Food Handlers. Foods, 9(9), 1169. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9091169

Jevšnik, M., Kirbiš, A., Vadnjal, S., Jamnikar-Ciglenečki, U., Ovca, A., & Kavčič, M. (2023). Food Safety Knowledge among Professional Food Handlers in Slovenia: The Results of a Nation-Wide Survey. Foods, 12(14), 2735. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12142735

Kholifah, N., Nurtanto, M., Sutrisno, V. L. P., Majid, N. W. A., Subakti, H., Daryono, R. W., Achmadi, A., & Dogara, G. (2025). Unlocking workforce readiness through digital employability skills in vocational education graduates: A PLS-SEM analysis based on human capital theory. IEEE Access, 11, 101625. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3040043

Liu, Y. (2021). Distributed leadership practices and student science performance through the four-path model : examining failure in underprivileged schools. Journal of Educational Administration, May. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-07-2020-0159

López, I. C., & Rodríguez-López, B. (2020). The relevance of transversal competences in vocational education and training: a bibliometric analysis. Empirical Research in Vocational …. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-020-00100-0

Mostert, S. (2025). South African accounting students’ perceptions on soft skills development in work integrated learning projects. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1534435

Muja, A., Blommaert, L., Gesthuizen, M., & Wolbers, M. H. J. (2019). The role of different types of skills and signals in youth labor market integration. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 11, 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-019-0081-3

Nurizinova, A. (2025). STEM-based approaches to soft skills development for higher education students. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1663155

Pantaruk, P. (2025). Soft Skills and Internships’ Practices Influencing Hospitality Students’ Employability: Evidence from Thailand. Social Sciences & Humanities Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101693

Pianda, D. (2024). The impact of internship experience on the employability of vocational students: a bibliometric and systematic review. Cogent Business & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2386465

Poláková, M. (2023). Soft skills and their importance in the labour market under the conditions of Industry 5.0. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18670

Powers, T. E., & Watt, H. M. G. (2021). Understanding why apprentices consider dropping out: longitudinal prediction of apprentices’ workplace interest and anxiety. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 13, 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-020-00106-8

Sartoni, M., Marconi, F., Torracca, B., Pedonese, F., Nuvoloni, R., & Guidi, A. (2025). Redesigning Food Handler Training: A Gamified Approach Tested in Italy’s Large-Scale Retail. Foods, 14(16), 2803. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14162803

Sauli, F. (2021). The collaboration between Swiss initial vocational education and training partners: perceptions of apprentices, teachers, and in-company trainers. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 13, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-021-00114-2

Schmid, E., & Haukedal, C. L. (2022). Identifying resilience promoting factors in vocational education and training: a longitudinal qualitative study in Norway. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 14, 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-022-00139-1

Shi, Y., & Bangpan, M. (2022). Young people’s participation experiences of technical and vocational education and training interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of qualitative evidence. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 14, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-022-00136-4

Suyitno, S. (2022). Industrial Apprenticeship Model Based on Work-Based Learning for Pre-service Teachers in Automotive Engineering. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.865064

Teym, A. (2025). Food safety practices and their determinants in small- and medium-sized food enterprises. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1536240

Tushar, H. (2023). Global employability skills in the 21st century workplace: A semi-systematic literature review. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21023

Wang, D., Guo, D., Song, C., Hao, L., & Qiao, Z. (2022). General self-efficacy and employability among financially underprivileged Chinese college students: The mediating role of achievement motivation and career …. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.719771

Warwas, J., Vorpahl, W., Seeber, S., Krebs, P., Weyland, U., Wittmann, E., Wilczek, L., & Strikovic, A. (2023). Developing and validating an online situational judgment test on the stress coping competence of nursing apprentices. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 15, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-023-00145-x

Xiao, Y., Wang, Y., & Wei, Y. (2024). Sustainable Design and Evaluation of Children’s Food Packaging from the Perspective of Buyers’ Preferences. Foods, 13(23), 3895. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233895

Yong, S. T. (2024). Students’ perception of non-placement work-integrated learning in chemical engineering: Work-related skills towards the post-pandemic future. South African Journal of Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2023.12.008

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17977/um025v10i12025p22