The impact of TVET-based entrepreneurship training program on student employability: The case of GIATMARA institution in Malaysia

This study looks at the important elements that affect students' employability following their completion of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) entrepreneurship program at the GiatMARA. GIATMARA is a Malaysian government-funded training institution under MARA, established to provide technical and vocational skills to both rural and urban youth, preparing them to become skilled workers and entrepreneurs for the country's economic needs. The study examines the effects of a number of factors, including job training programs (JTP), strategic industrial partnerships (SIP), and training initiatives (TI), on students' capacities (SC) and, in turn, their employment prospects (EP). Data from 658 GiatMARA-trained entrepreneurs was gathered through online surveys using a conceptual framework. Using structural equation modeling-partial least squares (SEM-PLS), the investigation produced a number of important conclusions. The findings demonstrate that training programs greatly improve employability prospects (EP) as well as student capabilities (SC). Comparably, it has been discovered that practical job training programs and strategic alliances (SIP) with industries significantly enhance students with competencies, which in turn promote employability. The research's main conclusion is that student competency plays a critical mediating function. It was found to be the most important element affecting employability, directly relating training efficacy to a student's performance after completing a program. The study also shows that industry engagement has the biggest direct impact on competency development, guaranteeing that graduates have highly marketable and relevant abilities. The results highlight how important it is to use cooperative training strategies to match TVET courses with industry demands. The study comes to the conclusion that increasing employability in TVET programs with an emphasis on entrepreneurship requires an integrated approach that combines skill development with real-world, hands-on training and solid industry connections. Policymakers and educational institutions looking to develop more relevant and efficient training programs that generate a workforce that is competent and prepared for the workforce should use these insights as a guide.