Challenges In Developing Work-Based Learning Among Diploma III Automotive Engineering Study Program, Faculty Of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta

Abstract Industrial development has been more challenging the technological and vocational education to strengthen their relevance with employment. Partnership with industry becomes the top priority that should be continuously pursued in order to optimize the learning process. One of the ways for continuously pursuing the optimization might be the Work-Based Learning (WBL). In relation to the statement, the study aims at identifying the obstacles within the implementation of WBL among the students of Diploma III Automotive Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta and at identifying the impacts of WBL implementation on the students’ learning process. While the study was conducted, the data were gathered through in-depth interview, questionnaire distribution and field observation. Then, the data that had been gathered were analysed using the qualitative descriptive analysis technique. The respondents who had been involved in the conduct of the study were the university students who underwent their internship program in 2017 and also the Workshop Head and mentor from the partnering companies of automotive industry around the Province of Yogyakarta Special Region and the Province of Central Java. The results of the study show that several obstacles have been found in the following aspects: (1) partnership development with the industry; (2) duration and timing of implementation; (3) activity guideline; (4) evaluation instrument; and (5) monitoring and supervision by the lecturer. On the other hand, the impact of WBL implementation on the students’ learning process is that the WBL enforces the creation of ideas that might be useful for their development in the subsequent assignments.