UNAIR NEWS – In a demonstration of unwavering commitment, the Management Department at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNAIR has implemented various initiatives, including the establishment of a Holistic Entrepreneur Ecosystem aimed at nurturing students into exceptional entrepreneurs.
Dr. Gancar Candra Premananto SE MSi, the Head of the Management Department at UNAIR, highlighted one of these initiatives—the development of an entrepreneurship curriculum, which has been tested and refined since its inception about a decade ago.
“This curriculum is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial attitudes through experiential and project-based teaching and learning systems. Students can apply their knowledge by creating and developing innovative, solution-oriented products, or services. Faculty members with MSME mentoring certification, other professional certifications, and real-world experience in managing entrepreneurial ventures serve as mentors for the students,” he said.
To support the teaching and learning process, the Management Department also provides adequate facilities and resources, such as the digital app ruangpamer.co.id for showcasing students’ creative works, entrepreneurship books authored by faculty members, and an MSME solution hotline for entrepreneurs.
Internal and international collaborations
In nurturing student entrepreneurships, the Management Department at UNAIR also collaborates with various internal communities, including the Workshop Entrepreneur Business Society (WEBS), Airlangga Business Community (ABC), and the Entrepreneurship and Industry Relations Center (PKRI). At the faculty level, there are regular exhibitions showcasing student entrepreneurial endeavors and a talk show called “Optimistic Student Discussion.” Furthermore, FEB UNAIR collaborates with JTV media as well.
“With these efforts, the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) has successfully nurtured students who are prepared to take on roles as workers and leaders in various companies, and also emerge as successful entrepreneurs. It’s shown through their remarkable achievements in competitions, such as the Student Entrepreneurship Week and the Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship,” said Gancar.
Prof. Dr. Dian Agustia SE Ak MSI, the Dean of FEB UNAIR, emphasized that FEB students are not just groomed for employment and leadership roles in various companies; they are also equipped to excel as independent entrepreneurs. This commitment is underscored by the establishment of the PKRI to cater to the entrepreneurial needs of FEB UNAIR students.
Demonstrating their commitment, the Management Department also received visits from various stakeholders to collaborate on enhancing the quality and quantity of entrepreneurship.
The visit was conducted by Barikatul Hikmah Albar Salim SHum MS MSc, the Global Future Cities Programme Manager of the British Embassy Jakarta; Sripeni Puspasari ST MEng from NETASIA Singapore; Rekyan Eckersley BEng MSc, the Managing Director of Synergy Consulting Singapore; and Dr. Ir. R.A. Retno Hastijanti MT, the Chair of the Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB) of the Surabaya City Government.
Hence, Gancar and his team held discussions and visited the UNAIR entrepreneurship learning ecosystem center, a platform nurturing young entrepreneurs.
FEB UNAIR is open to international collaborations to promote MSMEs. Thus, UNAIR’s Management Department can contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in Indonesia, particularly in Surabaya. He emphasized that UNAIR’s Management is ready to partner with individuals who aspire to be great entrepreneurs.
Author: Aidatul Fitriyah
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
