Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) is again trusted .) by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudris) as a university implementing the Independent Entrepreneurship Programme (WMKtek).
This program was officially opened in an event entitled ‘Kick Off of the UMSU 2024 Independent Entrepreneurship Programme’, which was held at the UMSU Auditorium, Muchtar Basri Street No.3, Medan, on Saturday (28/9).
For 2024, the number of W.M.K. participants increased from the previous year to 553 students, with 251 participants from UMSU and 302 others from various universities in Indonesia. In addition, 48 accompanying lecturers, consisting of 22 UMSU lecturers and 26 lecturers from partner universities, and 48 S.M.E. partners who collaborate with BUMN Houses, were involved. In 2023, UMSU fostered 300 students from various universities, Waney, S.T., M.I.A., heades.
The head of the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Merdeka Entrepreneurship, M.I.A., said online that the program is a platform for students who have an interest in and passion for becoming entrepreneurs in the future.
‘The W.M.K. program has entered its third year and continues to expand its reach and collaboration with various universities in Indonesia,’ said Gamaliel.
Welcoming this activity, the Rector of UMSU, Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP, expressed his gratitude for the trust given by the Ministry of Education and Culture to UMSU.
‘We thank the Ministry and partners, such as IWAPI, as well as all supporters of this event. We are honored for the trust that has been given and are committed to fully supporting this program,’ said Agussani.
Prof Agussani also expressed his pride that UMSU was one of the campuses with the largest number of participants who passed the national level Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Expo 2024. ‘This program is not just training, but has become an integral part of the learning process and application of the theory obtained by students in class,’ he added.
Previously, the Head of UMSU’s Centre for Industry-Based Entrepreneurship and Innovation Studies (PUSKIIBI), Dewi Andriany, S.E., MM, said that the Independent Entrepreneurship program aims to produce young entrepreneurs among students.
‘This program is expected to be able to produce superior seeds that are ready to become creative and innovative startups in the future,’ said Dewi.
The Merdeka Entrepreneurship Programme is part of the Merdeka Belajar policy, which has been operating for three years. In 2023, UMSU was appointed as one of 29 universities implementing the W.M.K. program, and in 2024, UMSU again won the trust to carry out the program with the theme Smart Entrepreneurship Season 2.
‘This year, UMSU is working with 26 partner universities, including 4 state universities, namely Syiah Kuala University, Medan State University, Malikussaleh University, and Udayana University, as well as 22 private universities from various regions in Indonesia,’ said Dewi.
With the theme ‘Smart Entrepreneurship Season 2’, the Wirausaha Merdeka 2024 program is expected to encourage the birth of young entrepreneurs who are creative, innovative, and ready to compete in the digital economy era.
Also present were Vice Rector 3 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rudianto, M.Si, Head of UPTD PLUT North Sumatra Province Yenni Melinda, S.SOS M.SI, Head of the Provsu Small Business Empowerment Bidamv Retno Indrayani, Chairperson of the S.M.E. & I.K.M. Division of APINDO Provsu Tjoe Mun Tong, S.E, Deputy Chairperson of the Membership and Empowerment Organisation of KADIN Medan M. Iqbal Sinaga and Vice Chairman of Hospitality Ferry Dika Wardhana Erwan, Chairperson of IWAPI Medan City Mora Nasution, C.E.O. of Rumah BUMN Olivia Fernaza, S.M.E. Partners, Field Assistance Lecturers and W.M.K. Programme Participants throughout Indonesia.
