UNAIR NEWS – Community service is one of the three pillars of the “Tri Dharma (Three Missions)” of higher education that every academic member must fulfill. Through these programs, knowledge is transferred to the public as part of a comprehensive effort to enhance social welfare. In line with this mission, the Islamic Economics Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), recently launched a new community service initiative. Since August, a team of UNAIR Islamic Economics lecturers and students has been working on a program titled “Export Assistance for Traditional Pottery Artisans” in Mlaten Village, Mojokerto, East Java.
The program focuses on assisting traditional pottery artisans in Mlaten Village, Puri Subdistrict, Mojokerto, East Java, to reach international markets. Over 27 traditional pottery artisans participated in the program, which took place on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
The training aims to inspire these artisans to market their products globally, with a particular focus on leveraging digital platforms.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Imron Mawardi, SP, M.Si, a lecturer of Islamic Economics at UNAIR and the leader of the community service program, emphasized the team’s commitment to providing direct support to local pottery artisans, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mlaten Village to establish a global presence.
“We want the artisans here to be competitive in the global market. They produce high-quality products, but if these are not marketed effectively, their potential remains untapped. This is why this program is so important,” he explained.
Digital marketing strategies
The program also featured Erland Maulana, an expert in marketing and SME development, who assisted the artisans with branding, digital marketing techniques, and hands-on practice. His training included creating social media accounts and posting their pottery products online.
The training also covered how to maximize the use of Facebook Marketplace features to boost engagement with potential buyers.
Erland provided insights into crafting unique and compelling product descriptions and highlighted the importance of maintaining good customer communication. While these tasks may seem simple, the residents of Mlaten Village still face difficulties in selling their products online.
“We’ll take it step by step, starting with posting their products on Facebook, to help them become more familiar with technology and support the growth of their family businesses,” he added.
The training was well-received by participants, who found the practical guidance invaluable. Pottery artisans, who had previously relied solely on local markets and craft fairs, are now beginning to recognize the potential for expanding their market reach to a broader scale.
Author: Sintya Alfafa
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
