TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba
Partner: MISEREOR/KZE dan Kindermissionwerk
The Government of Indonesia has launched the TVET Revitalization Program (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) as a follow-up to Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2016 on Improving the Quality and Competitiveness of Human Resources, and further strengthened by Presidential Regulation No. 68 of 2022 on the Revitalization of Vocational Education and Training. These regulations are aligned with one of the objectives of the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025–2029, Priority 4, namely Strengthening Human Resource Development, Science, Technology, Education, Health, Sports Achievement, Gender Equality, and the Empowerment of Women, Youth (Millennial and Generation Z), and Persons with Disabilities.
The tourism sector is one of the potential sectors to drive economic growth in Sumba. However, there are still many challenges in optimizing tourism potential, particularly in the areas of human resources and education. Therefore, improving the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Sumba is essential to produce a workforce that meets the needs of the tourism industry and increases employment opportunities, while contributing to the development of sustainable, high-quality, and inclusive tourism.
The TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba program is implemented by DESMA Center. This tourism human resource capacity-building initiative aims to realize “a vocational tourism education program in Sumba that meets the needs and requirements of the tourism industry, thereby offering better employment opportunities for young people and supporting sustainable tourism in Sumba.” The program is implemented from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2025.
The program includes strengthening the capacity of vocational tourism school management in line with the Merdeka Curriculum and the concept of sustainable tourism; enhancing teachers’ capacity in pedagogical knowledge related to teaching and sustainable tourism; strengthening partnerships between vocational tourism schools and the tourism industry; and developing students’ entrepreneurial capacity in creating sustainable tourism businesses.
The direct beneficiaries of the program are SMK Pancasila – Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; SMK Negeri 2 Kota Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; SMK Bakti Luhur – Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; SMK Efata – Omba Rade, Southwest Sumba; and SMK Negeri 1 Waikabubak, West Sumba. The program’s direct partners include the Provincial Office of Education and Culture of East Nusa Tenggara, the Government of Southwest Sumba Regency, the Government of West Sumba Regency, the Tourism Office of Southwest Sumba Regency, and the Tourism Office of West Sumba Regency.
TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba 2025 focused on strengthening partnerships between vocational tourism schools and the tourism industry, as well as enhancing entrepreneurship development programs with a focus on creating sustainable tourism businesses. These efforts were carried out through various activities, including student entrepreneurship capacity-building workshops and the implementation of job fairs. The 2025 program implementation also included awareness-raising and development initiatives for child-friendly schools, as well as anti-bullying and anti-violence measures within the school environment.
