Daniel Jesayanto Jaya, Putu Sudira, Nuryadin Eko Raharjo
Vocational teacher professionalisation is increasingly recognised as essential for skills formation, yet it is often treated separately from human resource development (HRD) debates. This conceptual paper reframes vocational teacher professionalisation as an HRD strategy linking vocational education and training (VET) systems to workforce transformation. Using international policy frameworks (ILO, UNESCO, UNESCO-UNEVOC, OECD, and the World Economic Forum) as analytical lenses, the paper synthesises global guidance with Indonesian policy directions and scholarly literature. The analysis identifies three interrelated HRD strategies: (1) industry-based teacher internships and work placements to strengthen occupational currency and pedagogy–practice alignment; (2) digital competence and soft skills development to support adaptive professionalism; and (3) competency-based certification linked to continuing professional development (CPD). The paper contributes an integrative HRD framing of teacher professionalisation and articulates implementable policy implications for systems facing inequality and resource constraints. The Indonesian case highlights conditions for transferability to other emerging-economy contexts. © 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Technology and Vocational Education and Training Department, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Sleman, Indonesia; Building Engineering Education Department, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia; Civil Engineering and Planning Education Department, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Sleman, Indonesia
