The Effect of Educational Management Field Practice on the Work Skills of Educational Administration Students, Faculty of Education, State University of Padang

Abstract

Work skills are one of the essential competencies that students must possess to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive labor market. Higher education institutions play a crucial role in preparing graduates who not only have academic capabilities but also work-related skills that align with workplace requirements. One of the efforts undertaken is through the Educational Management Field Practice Program (Praktik Lapangan Manajemen Pendidikan – PLMP), a learning activity that provides students with real-world work experience in educational settings. This study aims to examine the influence of the Educational Management Field Practice Program on the work skills of Educational Administration students at the Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Padang. The study employed a quantitative approach using a correlational research method. The research population consisted of students who had completed the PLMP program during the July–December 2025 period, with the sample selected using a proportional random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The results indicated that students’ work skills were categorized as good, with a Total Respondent Achievement (TCR) score of 84.25%, while the implementation of PLMP was also categorized as good, with a TCR score of 87.14%. Regression analysis revealed that PLMP had a positive and significant effect on students’ work skills, contributing 44.1% to the variance in work skills. These findings suggest that field practice experience plays an important role in enhancing students’ work skills and can serve as an effective strategy for preparing graduates who are better equipped to enter the workforce.