<![CDATA[Employee performance is one of the key factors determining the effectiveness of organizational management, particularly in higher education institutions that rely heavily on the quality of human resources. Competence and work motivation are considered important determinants in improving employee performance, yet empirical evidence within vocational higher education institutions remains limited. This study aims to analyze the influence of competence and work motivation on employee performance at Akademi Sekretaris dan Manajemen Kencana Bandung, both partially and simultaneously. This research employed a quantitative approach using descriptive and verification methods. The study involved 30 employees selected through a saturated sampling technique. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using multiple linear regression with the assistance of SPSS version 25. The findings indicate that competence and work motivation are categorized as good. Partial hypothesis testing shows that competence has a positive and significant effect on employee performance (β = 0.305; p < 0.05), while work motivation also has a positive and significant effect on employee performance (β = 0.380; p < 0.05). Simultaneously, competence and work motivation significantly influence employee performance with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.662, indicating that both variables explain 66.2% of the variation in employee performance. The study concludes that improving employee competence and sustaining work motivation are essential strategies for enhancing organizational performance in vocational higher education institutions.]]>
