PERAN PELATIHAN LPK KARTIKA BAWEN DALAM PENGEMBANGAN KARIR DI INDUSTRI GARMEN

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of the Kartika Bawen Vocational Training Institute (LPK) in supporting employee career development within the garment industry, which continues to face complex challenges in the era of globalization. The research employed a qualitative method with a case study approach, involving 30 alumni from the 2022–2024 cohorts, 8 instructors and LPK management members, 12 supervisors and managers from garment companies, as well as 15 colleagues of the alumni. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, participatory observations conducted at both the training sites and the alumni’s workplaces, and document analysis of curricula, evaluation reports, and alumni performance records. The findings indicate that the training programs offered by LPK Kartika Bawen effectively enhanced participants’ technical competencies in pattern making, cutting, sewing, finishing, and quality control, while also strengthening non-technical skills such as communication and work ethics. The discussion highlights that the competency-based training approach implemented by the institution successfully bridges the gap between formal education outcomes and the actual needs of the industry, as evidenced by a reduction in skill gaps and an improvement in graduates’ competitiveness in the labor market. The study concludes that LPK Kartika Bawen holds a strategic role in advancing career development in the garment industry through its integrated training programs that combine both technical and non-technical components aligned with industry standards.