Journal of Engineering Education Transformations

Abstract

This article focuses on the professional identity needs of vocational teachers in the 21st century in Indonesia. Challenges in the 21st century have changed and caused major changes for vocational teachers, while vocational teachers have heterogeneous characteristics, including learning experience, educational background, employment status, and other determinants. An important objective of this study is to analyze the proxies of professional identity of vocational teachers in the 21st century in preparing future vocational teachers. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. A total of 139 vocational teachers participated in describing the professional skills needs of vocational teachers for the future. The findings describe that (1) technology skills and ICT are defined as hard skills and apart from the 4Cs, literacy strengthening is needed to strengthen soft skills; and (2) vocational teachers need hands-on experience in the business world, industry, and the world of work (DUIKA). This study recommends that the professional competence of vocational teachers needs to be improved through self-development training and continuous professional development (CPD).

Keywords: vocational teacher, professional teacher, professional identity, technology skills, real experience