Jurnal EMPOWERMENT; Jurnal Ilmiah Program Studi Pendidikan Luar SekolahVolume 10, Nomor 2 September 2021,p-ISSN No. 2252-4738 e-ISSN : 2580-7692

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IMPROVING VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
ALUMNI COMPETITIVENESS

THROUGH ONLINE BUSINESS TRAINING

Nurmawati1, Sri Nurhayati2, Agus Hasbi Noor3

1,2,3 IKIP Siliwangi – Cimahi – Jawa Barat – Indonesia
1nurma2020penmas@gmail.com

Received: Agustus, 2021; Accepted: September, 2021
Abstract
This study aims to determine the implementation of online business training carried out at SMK
Cendekia Batujajar, West Bandung Regency and to increase the competence of online business
alumni who have attended the training. The subjects in this study were the Bursa Kerja Khusus (BKK)
of SMK Cendekia Batujajar, the training organizing committee, and the training participants. This
study uses a qualitative descriptive method, with data collection techniques through observation,
interviews, and documentation studies. From the data analysis and research results, it can be
concluded that the online business competence of SMK alumni increases after attending the training.
The implementation of online business training at the Batujajar Cendekia Vocational School is based
on the BKK analysis of the Batujajar Cendekia Vocational School on the needs of alumni to increase
competitiveness in the era of the industrial revolution 4.0, planned program planning according to the
conditions and needs of the industrial world.

Keywords: Online Business Training, Competitiveness, Vocational High School Alumni

Abstrak
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui implementasi pelatihan bisnis online yang dilaksanakan di
SMK Cendekia Batujajar Kabupaten Bandung Barat serta peningkatan kompetensi berbisnis online
alumni yang telah mengikuti pelatihan. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah Bursa Kerja Khusus
(BKK) SMK Cendekia Batujajar, panitia penyelenggara pelatihan, dan peserta pelatihan. Penelitian
ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif,  dengan teknik pengumpulan data melalui observasi,
wawancara, dan studi dokumentasi. Dari analisis data dan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa
kompetensi berbisnis online alumni SMK meningkat setelah mengikuti pelatihan. Implementasi
pelatihan bisnis online di SMK Cendekia Batujajar di dasarkan pada analisa BKK SMK Cendekia
Batujajar terhadap kebutuhan alumni untuk meningkatkan daya saing di era revolusi industry 4.0,
perencanaan program yang terencana sesuai kondisi dan kebutuhan dunia industri.

Kata kunci: Training Bisnis Online, Daya Saing, Alumni Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan

How to Cite: Nurmawati, Nurhayati, S. & Noor, A.H. (2021). Improving Vocational High
School Alumni Competitiveness Through Online Business Training. EMPOWERMENT:
Jurnal Ilmiah Program Studi Pendidikan Luar Sekolah 10 (2), 160-167.

INTRODUCTION

Today, the world is rapidly entering the fourth industrial revolution. Every aspect of life is
affected by digitalization, from manufacturing to finance. Indonesia's human resources (HR)
will undoubtedly lag behind other countries without adequate quality. Insufficient education
in school; each individual's talents must be refined and developed. Industrial revolution 4.0
enables the emergence of previously unimaginable new lines of business, jobs, and even
professions. Nonetheless, there are certain lines of business, professions, and jobs that are
threatened by artificial intelligence machines and robots and are being replaced by them



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(Ghufron, 2018). The fourth industrial revolution, also known as industry 4.0, is a time period
during which the world places a premium on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning,
and real-time data management (S. Nurhayati, 2020). Because innovation is necessary for
change, and the industrial revolution is transforming the way people work from manual to
automated, innovation has become a factor in determining a country's or company's
competitiveness (Suwardana, 2018).

Industrial revolution 4.0 necessitated the development of high-quality human resources that
were competent and dependable, both for businesses and institutions, as well as for
entrepreneurship. The internet has spawned a new model that is no longer time- and distance-
bound. Online business is a highly effective marketing tool that is greatly needed today, as
consumers now have access to a broader range of products and services to assist them in
making purchasing decisions. According to online news source the number of internet users
in Indonesia in 2020 will be around 175.5 million, out of a total population of 268 million,
with a national digital reach of 64% across the region and an increase in internet users. As a
result of these findings, it can be concluded that online business has an excellent chance of
becoming one of the businesses that will thrive in the era of revolution 4.0. Online business
has emerged as a lucrative field of self-employment. Along with being easier to implement,
the advancement of information technology has made it easier to develop an online business.
Through the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of information exchange, technology-enabled
business transformation can be accelerated. As a modern marketing medium, web-based
information is critical to the company's success in expanding market access (Akhmad, 2015).

In order to improve the competitiveness of its graduates, SMK Cendekia Batujajar provides
pieces of training to both learners and alumni. One of the trainings held is online business
training, which is expected to increase the competitiveness of smk cendekia batujajar alumni
to be entrepreneurs, especially in online business. This research aims to find out the
implementation of online business training conducted at SMK Cendekia Batujajar West
Bandung Regency and the competence of online business of SMK alumni after participating
in online business training as well.

Competitiveness in the Era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0
The history of the Industrial Revolution started from industry 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, to industry 4.0 as
a phase of the technological revolution. The development of science and technology has
transformed the world and human life with various complexities and global transformations,
so everyone must have the ability to predict a rapidly changing future and prepare for the era
of industrial revolution 4.0 (Siti, 2018).

Digital connectivity in the era of the industrial revolution, in addition to increasing the
efficiency of the manufacturing chain and product quality, can also eliminate employment
because robots take it over. This could be a threat to Indonesia as a country that has a high
labor force and unemployment. The government needs to address these changes by preparing
appropriate strategies to improve the competitiveness of national industries while creating
more comprehensive employment for the community (Satya, 2018). It takes competent and
quality human resources and can be relied upon both by the company and for
entrepreneurship to have qualified competitiveness to face this era. (Setiono, 2019). Some of
the skills needed to face the industrial era 4.0, including:
a. Skills in information, media, and technology,
b. learning and innovating skills,
c. leadership and responsible,



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d. ability to communicate effectively.

From the above understanding, it can be concluded that competitiveness in the era of
revolution industry 4.0 is the ability to compete in the digital revolution by improving digital
technology skills, especially the internet, to self-employment based on information
technology.

Online Business Training
Training is a part of education related to the learning process outside the school system
because it is carried out outside of formal education. In addition to requiring a relatively short
time, training also emphasizes more on practice. Training is carried out related to the needs of
the world of work and industry and the wider community environment (Sri Nurhayati, 2018).
Its development, ranging from simple training models to complex training models, will rely
heavily on society's culture, especially those related to the world of education. The training
model is considered adequate when based on curriculum, approaches, and strategies
following the learning needs of the student's goals and the problems that occur in the midst.
So more specific requirements are needed in building a training model to be more effective
and efficient, including the learning needs of the term trainees in the world of education
outside the school known as Training Needs Assessment (TNA), Subject Matter Analysis
(SMA), and Approaches to Training and Development (ATD) (Kamil, 2003).

Science and technology are advancing rapidly in the digital era. Because technology has
impacted human life, everyone must master information technology in order to avoid being
left behind and to take advantage of various advancement opportunities, as information plays
a critical role in the era of the information society or science society (Nana & Surahman,
2019). According to Akhmad's research, information technology is advancing at a faster rate
and affecting all spheres of life, most notably economic transactions, in the industrial era 4.0.
(Akhmad, 2015). Due to the increasing openness and competitiveness of market mechanisms,
market mastery becomes a requirement for increasing competitiveness. The ease and low cost
of internet connections today encourage an increasing number of people to use the internet.
Everyone must be able to adapt to changes in order to maintain their competitiveness and
avoid falling behind, specifically through the use of information technology (IT). Through the
use of information technology, the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of information exchange
in business transformation will be increased. Online commerce has emerged as one of the
most promising areas of entrepreneurship. Along with being easier to apply, the advancement
of information technology has made it easier to grow an online business. The use of
information technology in online businesses has the potential to improve business
transformation by increasing the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of large amounts of data
exchange in order to expand market access and drive success. The advantages of conducting
business online include the fact that it can be conducted at any time and from any location,
that it can continue to operate (online), that it consumes little energy, that it can be conducted
without the product, that it has a broad consumer reach, and that it is easy to promote the
product. While the disadvantages include a heavy reliance on the internet, copyright issues,
shipping issues, and increased shipping costs. As stated previously, online business training is
a process of developing the ability to teach through the use of specific techniques and
methods designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and application of information
technology science in the field of commercial business conducted over the internet network.



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METHOD

The research methods used are descriptive with a qualitative approach. The research
instrument is the human himself in qualitative research and aims to explore, decrypt, and
elaborate. While descriptive is to describe clearly field phenomena, then examined following
the researcher's point of view. So the researcher is the main instrument that has a part in the
research. The subjects in this study were 1 manager of the Special Job Exchange (BKK) of
SMK Cendekia as the organizer and five respondents from alumni of SMK Cendekia
batujajar who had participated in online business training. In this study, researchers used
direct communication by asking open-ended questions, so that the information obtained was
more complete and in-depth and related to the problems studied.To validate data,
triangulation is used, which entails collecting similar data from multiple sources, reducing,
and presenting it until conclusions are withdrawn. Data triangulation is used to increase
confidence (validity) and consistency (reliability), as well as to aid in information analysis on
the ground.In this validity test, triangulation is defined as the process of verifying data from
multiple sources in multiple ways and at multiple times (Sugiyono, 2019).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results

According to the interview with Pramudita Koswara Putra, S.Pd, Chairman of the Special Job
Exchange (BKK), and smk Cendekia Batujajar, the activity's organizer, training planning
began with the following steps: 1) identifying alumni problems, 2) identifying needs to
determine the training required by alumni, 3) designing training activities, and 4) submitting
a proposal for training activities to be implemented.
According to the findings of interviews and observations, the stages of training are as
follows:
1) The identification of problems is based on the results of a survey of alumni of SMK

Cendekia Batujajar conducted via online questionnaires distributed to 32 returnees, 27 of
whom stated that they were jobless.

2) Identification of needs based on the results of the alumni questionnaire analysis, as well
as the current state of work and business in which online business offers excellent
opportunities.

3) The organizer created training activities that included meetings and discussions with a
variety of entrepreneurial practitioners, particularly those involved in online business.
This is supported by documentation obtained during observation of meeting minutes.

4) The activity proposal was submitted for approval to SMK Cendekia Batujajar and
Yayasan Putra Cendikia.

5) On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the training was held in the hall of SMK Cendekia
Batujajar, with speakers and tutors from the Indonesian Marketing Teachers Association
(AGMARI)

6) Evaluation occurs following the conclusion of training activities.

Increased competitiveness indicators assessed during the training evaluation process include
participants' increased knowledge and skills in online business, increased skills in the use of
information technology, and social media to launch an online entrepreneur. According to an
interview with one of the participants, the result of online business training is an increased
understanding of marketing science, particularly in online business, the steps necessary to
start an online business, effective communication with consumers, and online product



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promotion. Nonetheless, the absence of mentoring following training activities ensures that
independent online business activities run optimally.

Obstacles to online business training programs include the fact that participants' facilities are
not all identical because, in practice, participants use smartphones to facilitate online business
transactions, primarily when they practice independently. Some participants encountered
barriers to internet access due to signal networks or quotas, preventing them from practicing
the results of intensive training. It was found that The weaknesses in online business training
at SMK Cendekia Batujajar through observations and interviews, specifically a lack of
intensive assistance from the organizer to participants. The training is brief, and there is no
mentoring to assist participants in starting and operating their businesses, resulting in the
slow progress and development of online businesses practiced independently by participants.

Discussions

Implementation is the process of translating concepts or innovations into concrete actions that
result in changes in knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes. Training is conducted from the
beginning to the end, from planning to implementation and evaluation (Akbar, S.T., Joko,
2018). The training organizer conducted a series of training activities prior to, during, and
after the activity to ensure that the training met the expected objectives. Prior to conducting
training, planning includes establishing objectives, developing a curriculum, recruiting
learners, selecting instructors, and determining the availability of infrastructure facilities
(Semarang & Aningtiyas, 2012). The stage of planning the training program for the
implementation of online business training is completed in the SMK Cendekia Batujajar's
Special Job Exchange (BKK) program. This is confirmed through the analysis of primary and
secondary data collected in the field. Primary data is based on the capacity of research
subjects to provide information about deteriorating data, specifically the Chairman of the
Special Job Exchange (BKK), smk Cendekia Batujajar, as a trainer, tutor, and participant.
Secondary data is used to supplement written data from a variety of sources, including
program planning documents, activity proposals, attendance recaps, minutes of meetings, and
evaluations.

The training sessions took place in the auditorium of SMK Cendekia Batujajar. The location
is chosen based on the completeness of the facilities required to conduct the training. The
room is quite large and can accommodate a large number of trainees. There is a wireless
network for conducting online business practice demonstrations, as well as presentation
equipment and other training-related equipment. Prior to implementing the training, another
activity is identification, which serves as a guide for the preparation and implementation of
the activity program. The identification is based on a survey conducted by the Special Job
Exchange (BKK) of alumni of SMK Cendekia Batujajar and emphasizes the current state of
the field in the context of the industrial revolution era 4.0, in which online business has
emerged as a viable business opportunity that can be practiced in a variety of competency
areas. As a result, online business becomes the focus of training sessions aimed at increasing
the competitiveness of SMK Cendekia Batujajar alumni.

In this era, five skill domains are required: digital literacy, intensive thinking, effective
communication, high productivity, and spiritual and moral values (Siti, 2018). Pramudita,
Coordinator of BKK SMK Cendekia Batujajar, explained that online business training aims
to increase participants' readiness to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0, particularly in the area
of online entrepreneurship. Facilitators invite practitioners from outside and the industrial



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world to help participants become more effective and competitive in the industrial revolution
era. Online business training conducted in June 2020 drew alumni from a variety of majors
and practitioners from the outside as speakers and received positive feedback from
participants because it provided new insights and knowledge about practical business fields.
This is reinforced by participants who establish online businesses through social media and
marketplaces, and some of them earn money. Additionally, digital literacy in online business
necessitates in-depth consideration of the business, effective communication with consumers,
high productivity, and adherence to spiritual and moral values in business operations.

According to previous research, entrepreneurship must be developed early on as a foundation
for the future, when employment is increasingly open to an innovative business climate(Stie
et al., 2020). F, an alumnus of SMK Cendekia Batujajar 2020, explained, "This training
provides motivation and knowledge to conduct business online without requiring a lot of
capital; anyone can start an entrepreneur with just a smartphone and product photos." The
training method refers to the manner in which instructors convey information in such a way
that it is easily accepted and absorbed by learning participants (Akbar, S.T., Joko, 2018). R, a
class of 2020 alumni, revealed that the training was quite exciting and provided a lot of new
insights, but that time for direct practice is still lacking. To create a comfortable learning
environment for online business training at SMK Cendekia Batujajar, lecture methods, live
demonstrations, and discussions are used.

From the start to the finish of the online business training session held at SMK Cendekia
Batujajar, the organizers, namely BKK (Special Job Exchange), were present. Following the
completion of the training, an evaluation was conducted to determine whether the objectives
were met in accordance with the plan, to overcome obstacles encountered during the training,
and to serve as a reference for future training. As stated by Sudjana, the evaluation process
entails collecting, managing, and presenting data for use in program decision-making
(Semarang & Aningtiyas, 2012). Each training encounters unique obstacles during
implementation on the ground and in the SMK Cendekia Batujajar online business training
program. The availability of infrastructure facilities during training activities is a facilitating
factor in the implementation of online business training. According to Anwar the term
"means" refers to a variety of facilities that can be used to support ongoing learning activities
in order to accomplish predetermined goals (Akbar, S.T., Joko, 2018). SMK Cendekia
Batujajar, located on Jalan Raya Batujajar, also provides transportation assistance to
participants. Among the supporting factors in this training are practitioners with sufficient
experience to serve as training sources. Professional educators, according to Sihombing
(Dumilah et al., 2020), are educators who possess competence and are capable of assisting
participants during the training process.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of the research and analysis of the data collected, it can be
concluded that SMK alumni's competence in online business increased as a result of their
participation in online business training at SMK Cendekia Batujajar West Bandung Regency.
This was bolstered by participants who started online businesses using social media and
market places, with some earning inco. Additionally to digital literacy, running an online
business requires intense thought about the business itself, effective communication with
consumers, high productivity, and adherence to spiritual and moral values. Training is
provided to alumni of all classes and majors, according to the program's schedule and with
the appropriate materials. Facilitators encourage practitioners from outside and the industrial



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world to be more effective, which can boost alumni's competitiveness in the industrial
revolution 4.0 era. Online business training conducted in June 2020 is followed by alumni
from various majors and practitioners from outside as speakers, and receives positive
feedback from participants because it provides new insights and knowledge about practical
business fields. Through online business training, it is anticipated that alumni of SMK
Cendekia Batujajar will be able to pursue online entrepreneurship. The training was quite
interesting and provided numerous new insights, but there is still insufficient time for direct
practice, and there is no post-training assistance to ensure that information on the
development of online business activities practiced by participants is not facilitated,
preventing some participants from practicing optimally.

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