Dozens of vocational high school students in Bandung have finally graduated and are eligible to participate in the 2025–2026 Data Detective Graduation Program at the Auditorium of SBM ITB in Bandung on Saturday (February 21st). This event marked the conclusion of the Data Detective: Exclusive Bootcamp program for vocational high school (SMK) students across West Java, attended by students from 11 vocational high schools across the country.
SBM ITB held this bootcamp because it recognized that the ability to read and use data is increasingly a crucial skill in the business world. Recognizing this need, SBM ITB developed the Data Detective Bootcamp program to equip vocational high school (SMK) students with data-driven business analysis skills. During the bootcamp, participants received project-based training through a series of monthly online classes covering marketing, finance, and dashboard creation to monitor business performance. The Head of the SBM ITB BDBA Laboratory, Dr. Eng. Manahan P. Saragih Siallagan emphasized that data proficiency is a crucial competency for young people entering the business world.
“Through this program, students are trained to solve real-world problems by utilizing data as the basis for decision-making. This skill is crucial so that their businesses are not only based on intuition but also on analysis,” he said in Bandung (February 21st).
During the graduation ceremony, participants gained insight into the use of data to understand social issues through a sharing session titled “Data Science and Simulation for Social Problems,” presented by Prof. Manabu Ichikawa from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. He explained that data and simulation play complementary roles in the decision-making process.
“Data helps us understand current conditions, while simulations help us plan for the future. Both need to be used simultaneously to produce effective solutions,” he said.
The program, which runs from May 2025 to February 2026, is designed as a practical learning space for students who already own or are starting businesses. Through this approach, participants not only learn data analysis concepts but also apply them directly to business decision-making.
In this program, participants work in cross-school groups to analyze various business models. They develop market analyses, marketing strategies, and data-driven business development plans. Some of the projects analyzed include Secangkir Candu, Kellsthree Coffee, Rise and Glaze, Seven Coffee, and the development of business analytics dashboards such as the Perfume Intelligence Dashboard. This collaborative approach between students from various vocational schools is designed to train adaptability, teamwork, and the integration of expertise from diverse backgrounds.
The Data Detective Bootcamp is a collaborative initiative involving the Big Data and Business Analytics (BDBA) Laboratory at SBM ITB, the West Java Provincial Education Office, the GEMA Foundation, and PT Chlorine Digital Media. The program was initiated by Carissa Tibia Walidayni, M.S.M., a graduate of a Vocational High School who successfully continued her studies at SBM ITB. Through this initiative, she and the BDBA Laboratory team, including Shimaditya Nuraeni, M.S.M., seek to foster the potential of vocational high school students through cross-sector collaboration.
“Vocational high schools, with their diverse areas of expertise, are a hidden gem whose potential must continue to be developed. In line with the SMK BMW slogan, working, continuing education, and entrepreneurship, we are committed to delivering programs that empower vocational school graduates to contribute to industry, pursue higher education, or create employment through entrepreneurship,” she said.
The program also forms part of a broader effort to expand access to higher education for vocational school graduates. The Chair of the GEMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Dr. Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, emphasized the need to expand opportunities for vocational students to pursue university studies.
“We hope that more vocational school students will continue their education at ITB. Learning opportunities should be open to all educational pathways,” he stated.
Hardyansyah, Director of PT Chlorine Digital Media, added that the analytical skills demonstrated by participants indicate that data literacy can be developed as early as secondary education.
“Data-driven business analysis is typically taught at the university level. However, these students are already able to apply it during vocational high school,” he noted.
Through the Data Detective Bootcamp program, SBM ITB aims to foster data literacy not only in academic settings but also as a practical skill for young people entering the business world.
