Siti Faris Afifah Abdul Ghani, Affero Ismail, Ramli Rashidi, Otto Fajarianto, M. Muktiarni, Mustofa Abi Hamid
Despite the proven effectiveness of apprenticeship program in developing a skilled workforce in the industrial manufacturing sector, it is often undermined by outdated curricula, limited industry involvement, and insufficient practical experience, leading to a skills gap and reduced employability. Understanding the key elements of this program and its interrelationships is essential for optimizing its effectiveness. This study aims to identify the fundamental components of manufacturing apprenticeships and examine their correlations to workforce competency and program success. By employing a mixed-methods approach, this research analyzes apprenticeship structures, and stakeholder perspectives from 108 manufacturing industry and technical institution respondents to determine the impact of various elements, including curriculum alignment, training delivery, training assessment, support resources, and certification processes. Findings from this study provide valuable insights into how different aspects of apprenticeship programs interaction contributing to policy recommendations for improving workforce development in the manufacturing sector. © 2025 IEEE.
University of Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Faculty of Technical Vocational Education, Johor, Malaysia; University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD), Sarawak, Malaysia; Universitas Negeri Malang, Faculty of Educational Technology, Malang, Indonesia; Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.227, Isola, Sukasari, Bandung, Indonesia; Graduate School, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
