Abstract:
Participation of local communities as workers in the palm oil industry is quite low and
only at the level of casual workers. Most of them (51.49%) work as operators with only primary and junior levels of education (67.95%). Regarding this, the present study aims to develop strategies for enhancing community involvement through vocational education based on palm oil industry. The study was conducted at three locations of palm oil industry centers in South
Kalimantan, namely Tanah Laut, Tanah Bumbu, and Kotabaru. The study uses a combination of both quantitative methods (survey) and qualitative methods (FGD). Data has been analyzed using SWOT model. The main strategy in empowering local communities to utilize the employment opportunities in the plantation and palm oil processing industry should improve their competencies through vocational education. Vocational education carried out must be established in the form of partnerships between oil palm plantation companies, government and local communities, as well as local community colleges.
