Pelatihan Kepemimpinan dan Softskill bagi Gen Z di Lingkungan Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan

Abstract

Generation Z (Gen Z), which currently dominates the secondary education level, faces challenges in the workforce and society that demand more than just technical skills. Various studies have shown that soft skills such as leadership, communication, emotional management, and teamwork are still underdeveloped among vocational school (SMK) students. Therefore, this Community Service (PkM) activity conducted by lecturers and students from Universitas Catur Insan Cendekia (UCIC) Cirebon aims to enhance the leadership capacity and soft skills of vocational students, particularly at SMKN 1 Kota Cirebon. This topic was chosen due to its high urgency in supporting the readiness of vocational graduates to enter the competitive world of work and society, and to foster a generation that is not only professionally skilled but also personally and socially mature. The method used in this activity is Service Learning (SL), a learning approach that integrates community service activities with academic learning and reflection. In practice, lecturers and students were directly involved in designing and conducting participatory training for students, such as group discussions, case studies, and interactive simulations. The results showed an improvement in students' understanding of leadership, effective communication, and teamwork, as evidenced by participant reflections and pre-post training questionnaires. Participants found the program helpful in building self-confidence and readiness for the workforce. This confirms the importance of continuous soft skills training in vocational schools to shape graduates who are both competent and of strong character.