Nurdian Susilowati, Lesa Paranti, Amidi Amidi, Edi Kurniawan, Puji Novita Sari
Fieldwork programs represent a critical component of higher education, providing experiential learning opportunities that connect academic knowledge with real-world practice. In line with the global agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)—understanding the quality of such programs is essential for strengthening students’ transition to the workforce. This study investigates the influence of service quality dimensions on student satisfaction in fieldwork programs using the SERVQUAL framework, while also examining the mediating role of field supervisors’ performance. A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected from 416 students participating in a 2023 fieldwork program and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrate that all core dimensions of service quality—reliability, assurance, tangibility, empathy, and responsiveness—exert significant positive effects on student satisfaction. Furthermore, supervisors’ performance not only directly influences satisfaction but also partially mediates the relationship between service quality and student satisfaction, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping students’ fieldwork experiences. These findings extend the literature by positioning fieldwork programs as not merely instructional activities but as socially embedded mechanisms that facilitate experiential learning and support students’ transition from education to work. Practically, the study underscores the importance of strengthening supervisory practices and service quality standards to enhance the effectiveness of field-based learning and to better align higher education outcomes with broader societal and labor market needs. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang City, Indonesia; Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang City, Indonesia; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang City, Indonesia; Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang City, Indonesia; Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar City, Indonesia
