Empowering Indonesian Female Migrant Workers through Home-Based Industry Training in Malaysia: An International Community Service Initiative

This study aims to empower Indonesian female migrant workers in Malaysia through home-based industry training as part of an international community service initiative aligned with the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. The programme was conducted over three days, from 23 to 25 January 2025, involving 34 participants and applying a training-based approach that integrates conceptual understanding of women’s economic empowerment with practical entrepreneurial skills. The implementation emphasised interactive learning to enhance engagement and contextual relevance. The findings show that the program raised participants' awareness of other economic opportunities, especially in informal and home-based areas, and enhanced their knowledge on starting small-scale ventures businesses using limited resources. In addition, participants demonstrated stronger motivation to enhance household income and a more proactive economic orientation. These results indicate that brief, focused training programs can be a good starting point for helping migrant women gain economic strength. The program also emphasizes the significance of international community service to share knowledge across borders and contribute to academic efforts. However, the short time frame and lack of follow-up processes could impact the long-term sustainability. Overall, the initiative demonstrates that integrating empowerment concepts with practical training can generate meaningful socio-economic benefits for migrant workers and contribute to the broader discourse on international community engagement.

women’s economic empowerment; migrant workers; home-based industry; community service; household income

1. Alderotti, G., & De Santis, G. (2024). Supply factors: demography, economy and skills. In Research Handbook on Migration and Employment (pp. 14–26). Edward Elgar Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Alsop, R., & Heinsohn, N. (2005). Measuring empowerment in practice: Structuring analysis and framing indicators (Vol. 3510). World Bank Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Amin, M. R. M., Ismail, I., & Sivakumaran, V. M. (2025). Revolutionizing education with artificial intelligence (AI)? Challenges, and implications for open and distance learning (ODL). Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101308. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ansori, M., Afandi, A., Fitriyah, R. D., Safriyani, R., & Farisia, H. (2021). Pendekatan-pendekatan dalam university-community engagement. UIN Sunan Ampel Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Barhoi, P., & Dayal, S. (2024). Adivasi women temporary workers in tea gardens and the Covid-19 pandemic. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 43(2), 211–229. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bastia, T., Lulle, A., & King, R. (2022). Migration and development: The overlooked roles of older people and ageing. Progress in Human Geography, 46(4), 1009–1027. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bell, A. R., Tennfjord, M. K., Tokovska, M., & Eg, R. (2023). Exploring the role of social media literacy in adolescents’ experiences with personalization: A Norwegian qualitative study. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 66(4), 239–248. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaal.1273 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Bierema, L. L., Fedeli, M., & Merriam, S. B. (2025). Adult learning: Linking theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Boeri, N. (2023). Informal work and the appropriation of social reproduction in home-based work in India. Feminist Economics, 29(3), 130–152. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Canas, E., Gough, R., Smith, M. J., Monette, E. M., McHugh, D. D., Le Ber, M. J., Benjamin-Thomas, T. E., Kasine, Y., Utuza, A. J., & Nouvet, E. (2022). What do we mean by critical and ethical global engagement? Questions from a research partnership between universities in Canada and Rwanda. Global Public Health, 17(7), 1358–1364. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Chaudhry, N. I., Ilyas, U., & Sohail, A. (2025). Dynamics of inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and their effect on entrepreneurial intentions among transgenders: role of psychological capital and entrepreneurial education. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 19(3), 631–651. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Cornwall, A. (2016). Women’s empowerment: What works? Journal of International Development, 28(3), 342–359. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Crabtree, R. D. (2008). Theoretical foundations for international service-learning. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 15(1), 18–36. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Downes, P., Li, G., Van Praag, L., & Lamb, S. (2024). The Routledge international handbook of equity and inclusion in education. Routledge London & New York. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Duflo, E. (2012). Women empowerment and economic development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(4), 1051–1079. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Durokifa, A. (2024). Rethinking development: The informal sector’s role in transforming South Africa’s economy. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 17(12), 209–220. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Fan, C. (2024). RETRACTED ARTICLE: Empowering Excluded Groups: a Multi-dimensional Analysis of China’s Anti-poverty Policies Through the Lens of Amartya Sen’s Capability Perspective. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15(3), 14969–14997. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Freire, P. (2020). Pedagogy of the oppressed. In Toward a sociology of education (pp. 374–386). Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Gaffar, V., Koeswandi, T., & Suhud, U. (2022). HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN INDONESIA? Teorija in Praksa, 59(3). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Garcia-Martinez, L. J., Kraus, S., Breier, M., & Kallmuenzer, A. (2023). Untangling the relationship between small and medium-sized enterprises and growth: a review of extant literature. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 19(2), 455–479. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Gathmyr, D., Suhud, U., Herlitah, H., Hamidah, H., Safariningsih, R. T. H., & Wilson, J. (2025). Technological advancements in perceived organizational support enhancing healthcare systems towards sustainable development goals. Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), 7(2), 516–526. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Hartman, E., Reynolds, N. P., Ferrarini, C., Messmore, N., Evans, S., Al-Ebrahim, B., & Brown, J. M. (2020). Coloniality-decoloniality and critical global citizenship: Identity, belonging, and education abroad. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 32(1), 33–59. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Hartman, S., Parra, C., & de Roo, G. (2019). Framing strategic storytelling in the context of transition management to stimulate tourism destination development. Tourism Management, 75, 90–98. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Hennebry, J., & Hari, K. C. (2024). One step forward, two steps back: pandemic policy responses and the gendered implications for women and LGBTQI+ migrants. In Research Handbook on Migration, Gender, and COVID-19 (pp. 309–324). Edward Elgar Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Hickel, J. (2021). What does degrowth mean? A few points of clarification. Globalizations, 18(7), 1105–1111. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Hjortsø, C. N., Romanova, G., Abdulkader, B., Aitelkadi, K., Aoudji, A., Bonou, A., Egeru, A., Gogo, E. O., Mshenga, P., & Mugonola, B. (2025). Community engagement in African agricultural universities: challenges to the institutionalisation of engaged scholarship. Higher Education, 1–27. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Hunt, A., & Samman, E. (2016). Women’s economic empowerment. Navigating Enablers and Constraints, Overseas Development Institute. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Illeris, K. (2009). Contemporary theories of learning (Vol. 2). Routledge London. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Kabeer, N., Razavi, S., & Van Der Meulen Rodgers, Y. (2021). Feminist economic perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic. In Feminist Economics (Vol. 27, Issues 1–2, pp. 1–29). Taylor & Francis. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Khan, J., Ahmad, K., Jagatheesaperumal, S. K., Ahmad, N., & Sohn, K.-A. (2024). Social media informatics for sustainable cities and societies: an overview of the applications, associated challenges, and potential solutions. ArXiv Preprint ArXiv:2412.03600. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Kolb, D. A. (1981). Experiential learning theory and the learning style inventory: A reply to Freedman and Stumpf. Academy of Management Review, 6(2), 289–296. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Lane, B. W., Messer–Betts, N., Hartmann, D., Carley, S., Krause, R. M., & Graham, J. D. (2013). Government promotion of the electric car: Risk management or industrial policy? European Journal of Risk Regulation, 4(2), 227–245. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Malhotra, S., Kaur, T., Jain, K., Pandey, P. K., & Sengupta, A. (2025). Inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem for PwDs: a reflection on SDGs. International Journal of Manpower, 46(4), 736–769. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. McAuliffe, M., & Triandafyllidou, A. (2021). Word migration report 2022. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. McCarty, J. W. (2024). From Service to Solidarity: On the (Im) Possibilities of Liberative Service-Learning. Religion & Education, 51(1–2), 101–119. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Mohammad, S. I., Yogeesh, N., Raja, N., William, P., Ramesha, M. S., & Vasudevan, A. (2025). Integrating AI and fuzzy systems to enhance education equity. Applied Mathematics and Information Sciences, 19(2), 403–422. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Morokvasic, M. (2015). Migration and gender. In Routledge handbook of immigration and refugee studies (pp. 54–63). Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Nallaluthan, K., Masran, M. N., Thurasingam, V., & Kanapathy, K. (2023). Malcolm Knowles’ Theory of Andragogy at Research Management and Innovation Centre Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (RMIC-UPSI): Work-Based Learning Model. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 4(2), 30–50. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Nugroho, Y. A., Iskandar, J., Novitasari, D., & Asbari, M. (2024). Transforming Manufacturing Service Quality through Enhanced Innovation Capabilities. Indonesian Journal of Management and Economic Research, 1(02), 30–41. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Piper, N., & Foley, L. (2024). COVID-19, gender and migrant worker (im) mobility: a global crisis perspective. In Handbook Of Gender And Mobilities (pp. 296–311). Edward Elgar Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Postan-Aizik, D., & Shdaimah, C. S. (2024). A triad model of engaged social work pedagogy: connecting research, education, and action. Social Work Education, 43(2), 356–373. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Price, M. H. H., & Moore, J. W. (2026). From policy to practice: declines in monitoring and Pacific salmon conservation in Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 83, 1–11. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Raina, G. S. (2023). Diversity in Upper Echelons and Firm Performance. Washington State University. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. Rajiani, I., & Warmansyah Abbas, E. (2021). Menulis Artikel Jurnal Internasional Merangkai Makna Membaca Pikiran Editor Cetakan Ke-2. Program Studi Pendidikan IPS FKIP ULM. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. Robeyns, I. (2006). The capability approach in practice. Journal of Political Philosophy, 14(3). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. Rosales, E. H. (2025). Ambivalent Humanitarianism and Migration Control: Colonial Legacies and the Experiences of Migrants in Mexico. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

47. Schrooten, M. (2021). Transnational social work: Challenging and crossing borders and boundaries. Journal of Social Work, 21(5), 1163–1181. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

48. Schweitzer, R. (2024). Migrant workers’ irregularity, precarity, dignity, and relevant actors. A Critical Review of Selected Literature around Key Concepts and Questions of the DignityFIRM Project. WP4/5. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

49. Scoones, I. (2015). Sustainable livelihoods and rural development. Practical Action Publishing Rugby. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

50. Singh, A. K., Sharma, D. S., & Shekhar, M. (2022). A STUDY OF THE BENEFITS OF STATE TOURISM ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON AWARENESS AND VISIT INTENTION. NeuroQuantology, 20(5), 1052–1060. https://doi.org/10.14704/nq.2022.20.5.nq22248 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

51. Stith, M., Anderson, T., Emmerling, D., Malone, D., Sikes, K., Clayton, P., & Bringle, R. (2021). Designing service-learning to enhance social justice commitments: A critical reflection tool. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 4(2). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

52. Suhud, U., Allan, M., Hoo, W. C., Fitrianna, H., & Noekent, V. (2024). Towards Sustainable Volcano Tourism: Understanding Visit Intentions At Mount Anak Krakatau Through Destination Credibility And Environmental Motivation. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites, 56(4), 1461–1473. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.56403-1317 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

53. Suhud, U., Allan, M., Juliana, J., & Rahmi, R. (2024). The drivers of addiction to online shopping, social media, and tourism: A study of cyborg consumers. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 8(3), 1405–1414. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

54. Suhud, U., Allan, M., & Wong Chee, H. O. O. (2025). Destination sustainability of Ijen Geopark as perceived by tourists: How far its impact on visit intention? GeoJournal of Tourism & Geosites, 58(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

55. Suhud, U., Dewi, M. A., & Allan, M. (2022). Revisiting Royal Tourism: Tourists’ Intention to Revisit the Yogyakarta Palace in Indonesia. Academica Turistica, 15(3), 307–321. https://doi.org/10.26493/2335-4194.15.307-321 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

56. Tan, C. (2020). Revisiting Donald Schön’s notion of reflective practice: A Daoist interpretation. Reflective Practice, 21(5), 686–698. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

57. Thabti, S., Omri, W., Yezza, H., & Omri, A. (2025). Empowering female decision-making in start-ups: the role of entrepreneurial passion in the formal and informal sectors of the Tunisian economy. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 1–28. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

58. Tibamanya, F. Y., Utouh, H. M. L., & Milanzi, M. A. (2026). Does Contract Farming Matter for Food Security? Evidence from Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Tanzania. Global Social Welfare, 1–16. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

59. Tijsma, G., Urias, E., & Zweekhorst, M. (2023). Embedding engaged education through community service learning in HEI: a review. Educational Research, 65(2), 143–169. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

60. Toyin-Thomas, P., Ikhurionan, P., Omoyibo, E. E., Iwegim, C., Ukueku, A. O., Okpere, J., Nnawuihe, U. C., Atat, J., Otakhoigbogie, U., & Orikpete, E. V. (2023). Drivers of health workers’ migration, intention to migrate and non-migration from low/middle-income countries, 1970–2022: a systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 8(5). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

61. Vasudevan, P., & Arokiasamy, L. (2023). ONLINE SHOPPING AMONG YOUNG GENERATION IN MALAYSIA. In Electronic Journal of Business and Management (Vol. 6). https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/19/online-shopping-goes-up-as-people- [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

62. Vesudevan, M., Abdullah, Z., Vasudevan, A., & Qin, P. (2025). Integrating sustainable leadership in Malaysian higher education: Effective strategies for implementation and impact. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(4), e2025115. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

63. Ward, K. A. (2020). Community engagement in higher education. In The international encyclopedia of higher education systems and institutions (pp. 206–211). Springer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

64. Wolor, C. W. (2021). The role of human resources in strengthening the creative industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quality-Access to Success. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

65. Yusup, M., Ariq, M. F., Nasution, E. J. A. H., Fahreza, A. Z., & Edwards, J. (2025). Digital transformation and branding for empowering the creative economy based on local wisdom: Transformasi digital dan branding untuk pemberdayaan ekonomi kreatif berbasis kearifan lokal. ADI Bisnis Digital Interdisiplin Jurnal, 6(1), 45–54. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Psychological and Structural Empowerment on the Personal Initiatives of Nurses in a Level 2 Government Hospital