<![CDATA[Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis strategi kepala sekolah untuk memperkuat daya saing SMK Swasta Harapan Stabat, dengan fokus pada pengembangan mutu internal sekolah, penguatan relevansi pendidikan dengan dunia kerja, serta adaptasi terhadap persaingan dan perubahan lingkungan pendidikan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus yang dilaksanakan pada periode April–Juni. Informan penelitian berjumlah empat orang, yaitu kepala sekolah, wakil kepala sekolah, guru kejuruan, dan guru kesiswaan, yang dipilih berdasarkan keterlibatan dan pengetahuan mereka terhadap pengelolaan serta pelaksanaan strategi sekolah. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara tatap muka, observasi, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis melalui tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Keabsahan data diperiksa melalui triangulasi sumber dan teknik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa strategi kepala sekolah mencakup pengembangan kompetensi guru, peningkatan kualitas pembelajaran, pembiasaan karakter disiplin dan tanggung jawab, pemanfaatan teknologi, optimalisasi fasilitas, promosi sekolah, serta penguatan kerja sama dengan dunia usaha dan dunia industri (DUDI), termasuk melalui praktik kerja lapangan (PKL) dan magang. Pelaksanaan strategi tersebut menghadapi tantangan berupa keterbatasan anggaran, keterbatasan perangkat peserta didik, perkembangan teknologi, dan persaingan antarsekolah. Penelitian ini memberikan gambaran kontekstual mengenai strategi dan tantangan yang dihadapi kepala sekolah dalam mengupayakan penguatan daya saing sekolah. Namun, penelitian ini tidak mengukur peningkatan daya saing secara kuantitatif maupun perubahan karakter peserta didik, sehingga temuan tidak dapat diartikan sebagai bukti bahwa strategi tersebut telah menghasilkan peningkatan daya saing yang terukur. The Principal’s Strategy for Strengthening Competitiveness at Harapan Private Vocational School (SMK Swasta Harapan) in Stabat This study aims to analyze the principal’s strategies for strengthening the competitiveness of Harapan Stabat Private Vocational High School, focusing on internal school quality development, the relevance of education to the world of work, and adaptation to competition and changes in the educational environment. The study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design and was conducted from April to June. The four informants were the principal, vice principal, vocational teacher, and student affairs teacher, selected based on their involvement in and knowledge of school management and strategy implementation. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, observations, and documentation, and analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Data trustworthiness was examined through source and methodological triangulation. The findings indicate that the principal’s strategies included teacher competency development, improvement of the learning process, practices intended to foster student discipline and responsibility, technology utilization, optimization of available facilities, school promotion, and partnerships with business and industrial sectors, including through fieldwork practices and internships. The implementation of these strategies faced challenges related to budget constraints, limited access to devices among students, technological developments, and inter-school competition. This study provides a contextual account of the strategies pursued by the principal and the challenges encountered in efforts to strengthen school competitiveness. However, it did not quantitatively measure changes in competitiveness or assess changes in student character. Therefore, the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that the reported strategies have resulted in measurable improvements in school competitiveness.]]>
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