UMSU launched the Merdeka Entrepreneurial Program Batch 2 of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek).
On Monday (7/8), the FIKTI UMSU Building on Jalan Muchtar Basri No.3 Medan hosted an event with the theme “Smart Entrepreneurship Society, Meaningful, Adaptive, Rich, Technology-Based” on its 7th floor. The event was immediately opened by the Rector of UMSU, Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP, represented by Vice Rector Dr. Rudianto, M.Sc.
In his remarks, Dr. Rudianto, M. Si, expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture for trusting UMSU as one of 34 tertiary institutions in Indonesia as the organizer of the 2nd Batch of the Merdeka Entrepreneurship.
“The choice of UMSU to be the organizer is certainly not a show-off, but this is a form of UMSU’s participation as a tertiary institution that makes the Merdeka entrepreneur program a gateway for all students to carry out activities outside the study program,” said Dr. Rudianto.
UMSU Vice Rector Dr. Rudianto also said that entrepreneurship at UMSU aims to produce students and alumni who are not only professional workers but can become entrepreneurs. Therefore, in entrepreneurship management, UMSU has an Innovation Entrepreneurship Center and Business Incubator (PUSKIIBI), which has successfully assisted P2MW 2023 students in getting 16 proposals for funding.
“This program is important not only because of labor competition but also because entrepreneurs have open opportunities. If there are students who do not take their rights to study outside the study program, they will suffer a loss,” said Dr. Rudianto.
The launch of the Merdeka Entrepreneurship program was filled with an entrepreneurial talk show featuring speakers M. Setiawan Kusmulyono, S.E., M.M., as the Bachelor of Business Program Manager of the School of Business Economics at Prasetya Mulya University.
The Merdeka Entrepreneurial Program, which runs for approximately 5 months, has 3 stages, including Pre Immersion. Namely, students will be equipped with various knowledge about business ideas, business models, market validation, and the financial system in entrepreneurship with experienced instructors, both academics and practitioners. Then Immersion students will study directly at partner entrepreneur locations accompanied by accompanying lecturers and coaches. Finally, Post Immersion is an intensive boot camp, product prototyping, and demo day. At the end of the program, if students take part in the entire series, students will be assessed by the evaluator, and their achievements will be converted into 20 credits.
Meanwhile, according to the Head of the Merdeka Entrepreneurial Program, Batch 2, as well as the Chairperson of PUSKIIBI UMSU, Dewi Andriany, S.E., M.M, entrepreneurship has become one of UMSU’s characteristics and commitments in line with the Merdeka Campus program.
“We hope that this program will create prospective entrepreneurs who are ready to enter the world of work or open businesses and create jobs for students and the community,” said Dewi.
The launch event was attended by 300 selected Merdeka Entrepreneur Force 2 participants, namely students from various universities in North Sumatra and Aceh, Leaders of partner universities, 30 MSME partners, the Chair of the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Women Association (IWAPI), Mora Nasution, Kabimawa UMSU Radiman SE, M.Sc and Faculty Leaders in the UMSU environment.
