Leveraging local resources for entrepreneurial micro-credentials: a multidisciplinary model for vocational education and sustainable development in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Central Kalimantan possesses abundant natural resources yet faces a paradox of high vocational graduate unemployment due to a misalignment between education and local economic potentials. Guided by place-based education and the triple-helix framework, this study develops and validates a multidisciplinary model for entrepreneurial micro-credentials that leverages local resources to bridge vocational training with sustainable development goals. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 365 students and 151 teachers across eleven Vocational High Schools (SMKs). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that Entrepreneurial Interest and Understanding of Local Resources are significant predictors of students’ readiness for micro-credentials, jointly explaining 59.3% of the variance. Thematic analysis from interviews (n = 30) indicated high consensus on regional potentials, specifically: agro-industry and blue economy in the West, trade and services in the Central zone, and sustainable forestry downstreaming in the East. The study culminates in a proposed collaborative “Triple Helix” model involving schools, industry, and government. These findings offer a replicable strategy for resource-rich regions seeking to synergize vocational education with sustainable regional development.
Institutions: Universitas Muhammadiyah Palangkaraya, Universitas Jember
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,790
Award: G7350536950
OpenAlex ID: W7165043675