Depok, July 4, 2025 — A doctoral research project in Public Administration at Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI) by Saryadi has drawn attention to the success of the Horison Industrial Class (KIH) Program in bridging the gap between vocational education and industry needs, particularly in the hospitality sector.

The study recommends a collaborative platform model strengthened by an integrated information system to enhance the competitiveness of vocational high school (SMK) graduates amidst the tight competition of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Indonesia continues to face a major challenge, with around 40% of its workforce having no more than an elementary school education and a significant mismatch between graduate skills and industry demands. While SMKs are expected to help improve workforce quality, the unemployment rate among SMK graduates remains high at 13.55%, and collaboration with the business and industrial sectors (DUDI) remains limited.

“The KIH program emerged as an innovation to strengthen this collaboration, develop joint curricula, involve industry practitioners as instructors, and provide internship opportunities at partner hotels,” explained Dr. Saryadi.

The research aims to analyze the implementation of collaborative platforms at SMKs in Jakarta, Semarang, and Yogyakarta to identify key success factors and develop a model aligned with the evolving needs of the hospitality industry.

The Horison Industrial Class Program has proven successful in four key areas. First, it is attractive due to its basis in real industry needs, offering tangible benefits to both students and the business world. Second, learning is enhanced through strengthened partnerships, joint training, and collaborative experiences that foster long-term commitment.

Third, the program demonstrates effective resource leverage, where minimal resource use yields significant improvements in graduate competencies. Lastly, strong synergy is fostered through informal partnership forums such as WhatsApp groups, coordination between central and regional stakeholders, and effective monitoring mechanisms.

“The collaborative platform developed in this research adopts the Ansell & Gash framework, divided into three implementation phases: preparation, execution, and graduate absorption. Each phase is supported by an integrated information system designed to accelerate coordination, improve accountability, and ensure open access to information for all parties involved in the program,” said Dr. Saryadi.

Dr. Saryadi emphasized that the integrated information system plays a vital role at every stage—planning, implementation, and graduate absorption. The goal is to accelerate inter-party coordination, enhance program accountability, and ensure transparent access to information among all stakeholders.

To support the sustainability and expansion of the program, Dr. Saryadi recommends several strategic measures. These include developing the integrated information system as a digital backbone connecting graduate data, industry demands, and educational planning; strengthening cross-sectoral coordination to align the vision between SMKs, industry, and government; enhancing synergy among ministries and agencies in vocational education policy; and fostering close collaboration between government and industry to ensure that SMK curricula and training stay relevant to evolving market demands.

This study demonstrates that a collaborative platform within the KIH Program effectively builds strategic partnerships and produces graduates who meet industry needs. The proposed model, supported by a digital information system for coordination, monitoring, and real-time evaluation, offers a practical solution to the persistent link-and-match challenge in Indonesia’s vocational education.

The doctoral defense was examined by a panel consisting of Chair Prof. Dr. Dra. Retno Kusumastuti Hardjono, M.Si.; Promoter Prof. Dr. Irfan Ridwan Maksum, M.Si.; Co-Promoter Vishnu Juwono, S.E., M.I.A., Ph.D.; and members Dr. Ir. Dwi Untoro Pudji Hartono, S.H., M.A.; Dr. Abi Sujak, M.Sc.; Prof. Dr. Amy Yayuk Sri Rahayu, M.Si.; and Dr. Roy Valiant Salomo, M.Soc.Sc.