Leveraging local resources for entrepreneurial micro-credentials: a multidisciplinary model for vocational education and sustainable development in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract Central Kalimantan possesses abundant natural resources yet faces a paradox of high vocational graduate unemployment due to a misalignment between education and local economic potentials. Guided by place-based education and the triple-helix framework, this study develops and validates a multidisciplinary model for entrepreneurial micro-credentials that leverages local resources to bridge vocational training with sustainable development goals. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 365 students and 151 teachers across eleven Vocational High Schools (SMKs). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that Entrepreneurial Interest and Understanding of Local Resources are significant predictors of students’ readiness for micro-credentials, jointly explaining 59.3% of the variance. Thematic analysis from interviews (n = 30) indicated high consensus on regional potentials, specifically: agro-industry and blue economy in the West, trade and services in the Central zone, and sustainable forestry downstreaming in the East. The study culminates in a proposed collaborative “Triple Helix” model involving schools, industry, and government. These findings offer a replicable strategy for resource-rich regions seeking to synergize vocational education with sustainable regional development.