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Student-run startups play a vital role in fostering high-innovation businesses that have the potential to become future industry leaders. As such, the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in supporting the growth and development of student-initiated startups is considered crucial to boosting the overall business ecosystem in Indonesia. This urgency is further highlighted by the fact that only a small fraction of student startups are currently able to scale their ventures into fully operational, revenue-generating businesses with sustainable economic impact.

This point was emphasized by Dr. Ahmad Ikhwan Setiawan, S.E., M.T., Head of the Behavioral Marketing Research Group, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), during the Workshop and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Startup Business Acceleration, held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, in Solo.

Dr. Ikhwan encouraged students to remain optimistic about entrepreneurship. “Many successful business figures started their ventures while they were still in university. Naturally, student entrepreneurs will face challenges along the way—but that’s where we come in. We are committed to mentoring and recommending actionable solutions to stakeholders who are involved in supporting these student ventures. Through this effort, we hope to accelerate the growth and performance of student startups,” he explained.

The event, which gathered more than 50 student startups, is part of a broader research initiative carried out by the Startup Division Team, a consortium of five universities: Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta, Universitas Pancasakti (UPANCA) Tegal, Sekolah Tinggi Pariwisata (STP) Sahid Surakarta, and Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta.

The workshop featured the theme “Opportunities and Challenges in Exploring Energy-Based Startups” and invited expert speaker Dr. Dina Nurul Fitria, S.E., M.T., Member of the Consumer Stakeholder Group of the National Energy Council of Indonesia. Also attending the event for to deliver remarks and support was Dr. Dwi Prasetyani, S.E., M.Si., Director of Alumni and Student Affairs at UNS.

Following the workshop, the Behavioral Marketing Research Group facilitated a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the student participants to identify current obstacles in their business development journey. The session aimed to uncover key business management factors that have not yet been effectively implemented, which may be hindering startup success. These insights will be used to formulate targeted recommendations for improving business operations and identifying critical success factors for startup sustainability.

Previously, a similar workshop was held at UII on November 13, 2024, to foster collaborative research and community service programs designed to strengthen student startups at UNS. That session was attended by 25 startups under the guidance of the UII Business and Innovation Incubator (IBISMA).

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (PPKS) of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) held a socialization session on the newly issued Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Permendikbudristek) No. 55 of 2024 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education Institutions. The event took place on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNS. The visit by the PPKS Task Force, led by Prof. Dr. Ismi Dwi Astuti Nurhaeni, M.Si., was warmly welcomed by the FEB UNS faculty member.

Bhimo Rizky Samudro, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., Dean of FEB UNS, expressed his appreciation for the Task Force’s presence and voiced strong support for all PPKS programs and initiatives. “This is highly relevant to the current dynamics within university campuses. We must actively prevent all forms of violence—especially sexual violence—as well as other types of misconduct in academic environments. FEB is fully committed to collaborating with the PPKS UNS Task Force on any upcoming programs or initiatives. What matters most is that we start with a clear and good intention—so that it can lead to positive and sustainable outcomes,” he remarked.

In affirming his commitment as Dean, Dr. Bhimo emphasized that it is the responsibility of the faculty leadership to support such efforts in two main areas. First, in terms of prevention, FEB opens itself to cooperation with the Task Force to initiate educational campaigns and awareness-building for students, lecturers, and staff. “An integrated effort is crucial, and we truly need the role of the PPKS Task Force here at FEB,” he added.

Second, during the handling of any reported cases, there needs to be a clear process—starting with knowing where to report and how to ensure the resolution is handled wisely and sensitively. “We are in an academic setting, and therefore we must respond to every case thoughtfully and responsibly,” he stated.

Prof. Ismi further elaborated on the definition of violence, specifically sexual violence, which includes acts of harassment, coercion, and any form of inappropriate behavior involving sexual elements. According to her, prevention at UNS is carried out through learning modules, strengthening governance, fostering a healthy campus culture among students and educators, and improving campus infrastructure. When handling cases, UNS provides support through assistance, protection, case management, administrative sanctions, and the recovery of victims. The university also guarantees restorative measures, including public apologies from the institution and the reinstatement of rights that were lost or suspended during the investigative process.

The PPKS UNS Task Force serves as the university’s frontline unit in both preventing and responding to violence—particularly sexual violence—by prioritizing the best interest of the victim. All efforts by the Task Force are guided by principles such as: prioritizing the victim’s well-being, non-discrimination, justice and gender equality, accessibility for persons with disabilities, accountability, independence, caution, confidentiality, consistency, protection of identity, and assurance of non-recurrence.

The mandate of the PPKS Task Force is clear: to serve as a responsible body supporting the realization of a violence-free “Merdeka Belajar” (Independent Campus) environment, where any form of violence is not tolerated. “So, let us all take part in standing up against any form of violence, including sexual violence. Don’t hesitate to speak up—whether it happens to you or to someone you know. Together, we can create a safe and inclusive campus for everyone,” she concluded.

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), hosted an International Research Internship Forum featuring Carmen Aquilar Cabello, a graduate student from the Master’s Program in Sustainable Economics at Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, who is currently conducting her research at FEB UNS.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Tri Mulyaningsih, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Academic and Research Affairs, stated that events such as this forum are part of FEB’s ongoing internationalization efforts. She emphasized that FEB UNS is continuously developing engaging academic programs to enhance the learning experience of students enrolled in its International Undergraduate Program, particularly through improved access to student mobility opportunities.
According to Prof. Tri, FEB UNS currently offers exchange opportunities with its partner universities in the ASEAN region, including Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. In addition, the faculty has established collaborations with institutions in Taiwan and Russia that also offer student exchange programs.
“We also have an academic cooperation with a university in the Netherlands, enabling our students to participate in both short-term (one-semester) and long-term (one-year) mobility programs,” Prof. Tri explained.
She further elaborated that the faculty aims to provide broader access for international class students to study abroad through various formats, including short-term exchanges, long-term mobility, and double-degree programs.
In addition to presenting information about student exchange programs—both inbound and outbound—the forum also highlighted a current example of an inbound student: Carmen Aquilar Cabello from Wageningen University and Research, who is currently conducting research at FEB UNS.
“While earlier I spoke about outbound students, today we also welcome an example of an inbound student. Carmen is a graduate student conducting field research here at FEB UNS. Her presence demonstrates that international mobility comes in diverse forms, all of which aim to provide new academic and cultural experiences,” Prof. Tri stated.
Carmen was then invited to share an overview of her research activities at FEB UNS. Her study focuses on dietary patterns among Indonesian adolescents. “Indonesia provides an ideal context for this research, as countries experiencing economic growth tend to undergo a nutritional transition. That is, dietary habits often shift from traditional foods to more processed products. This change has been linked to rising obesity rates in nations transitioning toward developed status. Understanding the root causes early on is therefore essential,” she explained.
Carmen also shared insights into the academic and logistical processes she navigated as a Spanish student enrolled in a Dutch university while conducting fieldwork in Indonesia. Building on Carmen’s presentation, Prof. Tri further highlighted the interdisciplinary linkage between economics—particularly development economics—and public health, as exemplified in Carmen’s research.
At its core, the study of economics often aims to formulate effective and efficient public policies. In the context of public health, particularly regarding adolescent nutrition, this research seeks to contribute toward identifying appropriate policy recommendations that address emerging challenges within transitioning economies.