Work Readiness of Accounting Vocational Education Students in Facing the Era of the Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 (Published)
Technological developments in Industrial Revolution Era 4.0 and Society 5.0 have brought significant changes in various sectors, including accounting. As a result, only professional accountants who have competence and skills can adapt to technological developments. This research is focused on assessing the work readiness of accounting vocational education students in preparing themselves for this era. The purpose of this research is to identify the level of work readiness of students at the Bali State Polytechnic Accounting Department and strategies to increase their work readiness. The variables measured are aspects of work readiness in professional skills according to International Education Standards 3 (IES 3). Research data were collected using a Likert scale questionnaire (1-5) and interviews. The number of samples taken were 144 students from 3 Study Programs. The results showed that Bali State Polytechnic accounting students were ready to face the Revolutionary Era of Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 with an average score of 4.01. Where the highest work readiness is in the Organizational aspect with a score of 4.06, in the D4 Managerial Accounting study program with a score of 4.16, and Women with a score of 4.02. On the other hand, it was stated that his unpreparedness was mostly determined by the Self View factor, namely views on work and confidence in completing it with a percentage of 35.56%. To further improve the work readiness of accounting students, various strategies are suggested, such as: integrating information technology courses into the curriculum, expanding internships, providing training in public speaking, increasing collaboration between academics and industry professionals, and organizing international webinars. By implementing this strategy, the Bali State Polytechnic can ensure that its students are well prepared to face the Revolutionary Era of Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0.
Keywords: Accounting Students, work readiness