Activities

Author: Agustina Purnami Setiawi, Programme Officer Field Office Sumba 

Editor: Siti Nur Hasbiyana, Program Associate and Outreach

Today’s job market faces increasing challenges due to intense competition among job seekers, from high school graduates to university degree holders. Amidst the low absorption rate of industries nationwide, Sumba stands out with its optimism to improve its workforce absorption.

The DESMA Center, in collaboration with its international partners Misereor and KMW–kindermissionwerk, along with educational institutions and business and industrial sectors (DUDI), held the “SMK-DUDI Sumba 2025 Job Fair & Partnership Expo” on 24th June 24th, 2025, at SMKN 1 Waikabubak. This event was organized by the DESMA Center together with five partner vocational high schools (SMKs) focusing on tourism vocational education development in West and Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara.

This event served as a strategic platform that brought together alumni and students from SMK/SMA with the business and industrial sectors. Participants not only received information on job opportunities but also took part in walk-in interviews, attended inspirational dialogue sessions, and witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between schools and tourism industry partners.

A key highlight of the event was the “Dialog Inspiratif” (lit. Inspirational Dialogue) session, where industry professionals, successful alumni, and local government representatives gathered in one forum. The session carried the theme, “Hard Skills Matter, But Champion Attitude Makes the Difference,” moderated by Boyke Hutapea, Program Manager of DESMA Center.

“Technical skills can be taught. But a positive attitude—discipline, honesty, and willingness to learn—that’s much harder to find,” Boyke said as he opened the dialogue. Supporting infographics were presented— showing that 85% of career success is determined by soft skills, and that 92% of global recruiters prioritize attitude over technical ability when hiring.

Julian Caesar, Executive Housekeeper of Arya Sumba Kodi, emphasized, “The tourism industry needs human resources who are not only skilled but also demonstrate service excellence and adaptability.” Amir Hasan Muhammad A. Majid, Duty Manager at Sima Hotel, added, “We welcome internships from vocational students, and we’re ready to hire outstanding students as permanent staff.” This offer was met with enthusiasm, especially by students preparing to enter the workforce. Semuel Dato Mesa, S.Sos., Head of the West Sumba Tourism Office, outlined the region’s tourism development vision. “We want vocational graduates to become the backbone of Sumba’s tourism industry, as the potential here is enormous.” Meanwhile, Lusiana Londong from the Department of Labor and Transmigration emphasized the importance of certification. “We encourage vocational graduates to undergo training and competency tests to improve their employability.”

The main activities at the job fair included job vacancy information and upskilling opportunities with other educational institutions. Participants could visit booths from tourism industry representatives and higher education institutions such as Arya Sumba, Alfamart, BLK Don Bosco, Stella Maris University, and Bank NTT to explore job opportunities.

An HR representative from Alfamart Waikabubak shared their recruitment criteria: “We look for employees who are honest, disciplined, and willing to learn. Skills can be taught, but attitude is our top priority.” Some companies, like Cap Karoso and Kambaniru Beach Hotel & Resort, participated online. Job seekers were instructed to send their CVs through provided links. “We are hiring for digital marketing and administration roles for vocational graduates,” explained a representative from Kambaniru via video conference.

Maria, a vocational tourism student, shared her impression: “I’m very happy to join this event. It gave me a clear picture of the skills I need to improve”. A participating teacher also noted, “Events like this are incredibly helpful for schools to align their curriculum with industry needs.”

Yohana Landa, Head of SMKN 1 Waikabubak, expressed appreciation for the collaboration. “This event is a concrete step in opening up employment opportunities while strengthening school curricula based on industry demands,” she said. Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the West Sumba District Vocational Principals Working Group (lit. Musyawarah Kerja Kepala Sekolah or MKKS), representing the District Coordinator for SMK/SMA Supervisors, added, “The government supports establishing link-and-match between vocational schools and industry, so graduates can be absorbed directly into the workforce.”

The event closed on a high note of optimism. Boyke Hutapea concluded, “Collaboration between schools, industries, and government is the key to producing work-ready vocational graduates who can compete in the digital era.”

Sumba has taken a vital step toward relevant and adaptive vocational education aligned with industrial demands. It’s now time for more stakeholders to get involved to strengthen the bridge between vocational schools and the workforce, ultimately producing high-quality graduates.