The Role of Work-Based Learning in Building Employability Skills of Vocational Education Students

The incompatibility between educational outcomes with the need of workforce is predicted due to the mismatch of workforce needs with the qualifications of produced graduates. Therefore, the learning in vocational programs must be able to give the solution. Work-Based Learning (WBL) is one of the learning in vocational education proved greatly effective to build the students' employability skills. The purposes of this writing are: (1) to reveal the importance of WBL in vocational education, (2) The effectiveness of WBL in building the employability skills of vocational education students in culinary department. Work-based learning models that used in this study is the model with the context of WBL Food Processing developed by Kokom Komariah (2013). The method used to see the effectiveness of the model with the observation sheet. The subject of this research consist of 40 students. Data were analyzed using descriptive quantitative. WBL is a bridge between the worlds of education and work. Buildable aspects of employability skills for vocational education students are dependability of working, the ability to cooperate, making judgments, initiative, interest, independence, politeness, discipline, and the ability to react to criticisms and suggestions. Therefore, WBL is a suitable learning or training method to produce excellent, skilled, and well-prepared workforces.