Enhancing the relevance of vocational education through link and match-based curriculum alignment between Muhammadiyah Kramat Vocational High School and PT Astra Honda Motor

Vocational education faces a fundamental challenge in bridging the gap between graduates' competencies and labor market demands. One of the key approaches developed to address this issue is the implementation of the link and match policy through curriculum alignment between vocational schools and industry. This study aims to analyze the implementation of a link and match -based curriculum alignment between Muhammadiyah Kramat Vocational High School and PT Astra Honda Motor through the Astra Honda Authorized Service Station (AHASS) network. The study employed a qualitative descriptive approach, with data collected from school documents, student records, and industry partnership documentation. The research participants included 197 eleventh-grade students, 150 twelfth-grade students, and AHASS industry partners serving as sites for industrial internships and industry-based learning. The findings indicate that curriculum alignment was implemented through competency synchronization, industrial work-based learning, the adoption of the Teaching Factory learning model, competency certification programs, and graduate placement initiatives. This partnership model enhances the relevance of vocational education by providing authentic workplace experiences, improving students' work readiness, and expanding employment opportunities within the two-wheeler automotive industry. The findings further demonstrate that sustained collaboration between vocational schools and industry constitutes a strategic approach to improving the quality and relevance of vocational education.