Activities

To support the link and match of vocational education, DESMA Center emphasises the importance for Tourism Vocational Schools to have a procedure or mechanism to periodically conduct a Tracer Study/alumni tracking to track graduates, get feedback on the challenges for graduates transitioning to the workforce and the competencies required by the industry.  

DESMA Center together with the assisted tourism vocational schools, namely SMKS Pancasila Tambolaka and SMKN 2 tambolaka, built a system to support the conduct of Tracer Study/alumni tracing on a regular basis. Prior to the training, DESMA Center has conducted socialisation to the assisted tourism vocational schools regarding the purpose and benefits of Tracer Study.

Training on building a Digital Tracer Study Platform and online database was conducted on 19 April 2021, in Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba. Ridho Alam, a web developer from DESMA Center was present as a trainer guiding 12 principal and teacher participants from SMKN 2 Tambolaka City, SMKS Pancasila, SMK Bakti Luhur, and SMK Kasimo in creating the concept of Tracer Study/alumni tracing integrated with the school website.

The representatives of SMK Pariwisata brought some initial data such as profiles, student data, documentation of school activities, and the school's vision and mission that were needed for the practical session. The development of the Tracer Study System is still ongoing with assistance from DESMA Center and web developers.

Each assisted tourism vocational school and partner tourism vocational school continued the activities that had been initiated during the tracer study training through updating the website in collaboration with the work team at each tourism vocational school for complete documents, alumni and school data, documentation, and other information.

DESMA Center continues to monitor the progress of the activities through a series of coaching. In the coaching series facilitated by DESMA Center, the assisted SMK Pariwisata team and partner SMK Pariwisata continue to consult to improve and update the database and information on the digital platform that has been built.

Until now, the assisted vocational schools are still collecting data and conducting data input processes, especially related to alumni data. This takes quite a long time because so far the data and information have not been managed well by schools. In addition to data integration, the biggest challenge in developing the digital alumni tracing platform is the low digital skills and knowledge of the PIC teachers of the assisted tourism vocational schools and partner tourism vocational schools.

Website links and alumni tracing: 

SMKN 2 Tambolaka: http://smkn2kotatambolaka.sch.id/

SMKS Pancasila Tambolaka: http://smkpancasilatambolaka.sch.id

The training and coaching activity of Building a Digital Tracer Study Platform and Database of Tourism Vocational Schools, is part of Strengthening the Relationship of Assisted Tourism Vocational Schools with the Tourism Industry, in the Tourism TVET Ecosystem Strengthening project in Southwest Sumba implemented by DESMA Center.

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The "DESMA Pandai - Strengthening the Tourism TVET Ecosystem in Southwest Sumba" programme, implemented by DESMA Center, is a collaborative project funded by the William & Lily Foundation and the Adaro Foundation. This collaboration is carried out to support the government, educational institutions, tourism industry and communities in Southwest Sumba in preparing quality human resources and ready to contribute to sustainable tourism development.

The programme lasts for 2 (two) years from August 2020 to July 2022. The direct beneficiaries are SMKS Pancasila Tambolaka and SMKN 2 Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba Regency. Project activities include:

(1) Strengthening advocacy to provincial and district governments; (2) Increasing the capacity of tourism vocational schools to prepare to meet the requirements towards LSP P1; and (3) Strengthening the linkages and networks of tourism vocational schools with related tourism industries. 

This project partners with the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Office of Education and Culture, Korwas SMA/SMK/PLB of Southwest Sumba Regency, Southwest Sumba Regency Government, Southwest Sumba Regency Tourism Office, as well as 2 (two) model SMKs namely SMKN 1 Kupang and SMKN 3 Denpasar which are involved in a sister school programme with SMKS Pancasila and SMKN 2 Tambolaka.

The project also received support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.