Kategori: faculty

“A Platform for Expression and Aspirations” was the theme adopted by the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sebelas Maret (FEB UNS), during a dialogue session titled Bincang-Bincang Fakultas (BBF-Faculty Dialogue). The event took place on Thursday, October 31, 2024, in the Suhardi Hall at FEB UNS. Attended by faculty leadership, heads of undergraduate programs, department heads, sub-department heads, academic support staff for student affairs, and representatives from FEB student organizations, this forum served as a channel for FEB students to voice their concerns and suggestions directly to faculty leadership.

The evaluation presented by BEM through BBF plays a crucial role in assessing and improving both the quality and accessibility of student services at FEB UNS. The feedback gathered during this event also serves as a key consideration for faculty leadership in shaping future policies at FEB UNS.

Prior to the dialogue, BEM conducted a service satisfaction survey covering four key areas: academic services, student affairs, facilities and infrastructure, and financial services. The survey was conducted from September 29 to October 13, 2024, through Google Forms, with 126 FEB UNS students participating. The sampling method used was simple random sampling to ensure broad representation of the student body.

In his opening remarks, Surya Azhar, President of BEM, emphasized that “A Platform for Expression and Aspirations” was chosen as the central theme for the second BBF of the year. He highlighted the importance of student concerns being communicated to faculty leadership and academic programs to create alignment and cooperation between students and the faculty. This collaboration, he explained, helps foster a more comfortable and productive academic environment.  “BBF serves as a space for students to share their thoughts and express their needs. We hope this encourages more students to actively voice their opinions to the faculty,” he stated.

Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni, Tastaftiyan Risfandy, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for BEM’s initiative in organizing BBF, noting that faculty leadership also benefits from student input. He suggested that before conducting future surveys, BEM should consult with faculty leadership to ensure the results truly represent the aspirations of the entire FEB student body. He also proposed holding BBF sessions in the afternoon to allow more students to participate.

Meanwhile, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Research, Prof. Tri Mulyaningsih, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., responded to several survey findings and advised students on how to present their aspirations effectively. “Students should speak up, but it is important to do so with respect, ethics, and well-structured arguments. Stay composed when addressing concerns and always consider ethical boundaries. Instead of expressing frustration emotionally, focus on proposing solutions. As students, you should uphold your integrity. Criticism does not have to be delivered with anger or hostility,” she advised.

She further encouraged students to adopt an intellectual approach when raising concerns, such as conducting research or publishing well-written pieces in appropriate media channels. According to her, this method increases the likelihood of their voices being heard.

The BBF event ran without issues, providing students with the opportunity to share their thoughts, receive direct responses, and gain guidance from faculty leadership in attendance.

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), hosted a Working Paper Series at the Royal Heritage Hotel Solo, Monday, October 28, 2024. The activity, which was attended by FEB lecturers and students, invited a discussant, Prof. Amine Tarazi, Professor of Economics and Finance, University of Limoges.

On this occasion, three FEB UNS lecturers presented the results of their research. Putra Pamungkas, Ph.D., delivered a research entitled ‘Small Business Loans and Repayment Sustainability’; Tastaftiyan Risfandy, Ph.D., with the title ‘The Performance of Micro-Financial Institutions: Islamic VS Conventional Cooperatives’; and Arum Setyowati, Ph.D., with the title ‘The Role of Directors’ experiences on the Relationship between Corporate Responsibility toward Employees Practices and Firm Efficiency.’

Regarding the Working Paper Series , the Vice-Rector for Planning, Partnership, Internationalization, and Information Affairs UNS, Prof. Irwan Trinugroho, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., said that this activity has become a tradition in FEB.

Lecturers, especially young lecturers as well as graduate and postgraduate students, should be encouraged to actively participate. “This activity is a good initiative, this is a tradition that needs to be built in FEB, both for lecturers, S-2, S-3 students who have research that needs to be stimulated or presented, and to get input from many people. This will make the research results better,” he said.

Prof. Irwan emphasized that the faculty always encourages graduate and postgraduate students as well as lecturers, especially young lecturers, both those who have not yet earned a doctoral degree and those who already hold a doctoral degree, to actively participate in activities like this. For those who are not yet holding a doctoral degree, they can learn to prepare proposals, and for those who already hold a doctoral degree, they must update their knowledge.

Prof. Tarazi considered that the three articles presented are strong and have shown good contributions. He further stated that research is a long-term process, and even senior researchers need to present their articles. This is important because when we present our research results in the form of articles both in workshops and scientific conferences, we will get new input/feedback that will improve the quality of the articles we write.

“This step can certainly feel fun and at the same time burdensome, but keep in mind that we should not think of criticism as something that is burdensome. This criticism can actually be a lesson for new graduates because after graduation, there are no more supervisors who will guide us in the research process. Once again, today’s agenda is very interesting, and thank you for inviting me on today’s occasion,” he said at the end of the event.

The Quality Assurance Unit (UPM) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), held a performance improvement gathering on Friday, 25 October 2024. The event was attended by the faculty leadership, members of UPM, the Quality Control Task Force (GKM), as well as faculty leaders serving in the 2019–2024 term.

In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Budhi Haryanto, M.M., Head of UPM FEB UNS, shared the accomplishments of UPM FEB UNS during his term from 2019 to 2024. On this occasion, Prof. Budhi officially submitted the UPM Activity Report to the faculty leadership, represented by Agung Nur Probohudono, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., Ak., CA., CFrA., Head of the Doctoral Program in Economics (PDIE) at FEB UNS. “This is an opportunity for UPM to deliver a report of its activities over the past four years. The quality assurance documents we have compiled are now handed over to the new leadership. We also wish to apologise to the Study Program Heads for any shortcomings in our work over this period. We hope this report will help the faculty leadership provide input to improve the performance of the next UPM management,” stated Prof. Budhi.

The submitted report summarised UPM’s key activities, including results from the Internal Quality Audit (AMI) from 2022 to 2024, tracer studies of alumni users, and benchmarking visits to various institutions, including the Quality Assurance Units of FEB Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universitas Indonesia (UI). These benchmarking efforts provided valuable insights into how other universities manage quality assurance and support teaching improvement.

Benchmarking visits to UGM and UI contributed significantly to enhancing the quality of learning processes at FEB UNS. UPM FEB UNS also undertook an international benchmarking activity at Universiti Sains Malaysia, which further expanded its quality assurance perspectives.

Looking ahead, the next UPM FEB UNS leadership is encouraged to expand its international benchmarking activities, ideally targeting universities in Europe or the United States. Benchmarking is no longer optional—it has become a necessity in maintaining and advancing educational quality.
Concluding the event on a lighter note, a series of indoor games were organized to strengthen camaraderie among participants. The activities were met with enthusiastic participation from all attendees.

Three students from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), awarded with third place in the Business Plan Competition at the 2024 Festival Ilmiah Syariah (FALAH). This event was organized by the Islamic Economics Study Group of FEB UNAIR on September 13–14, 2024. The students—Kharisma Mayang Puspita, Zida Fauziya Kamala from the Undergraduate Development Economics Program, and Abdilah Adib Had Farhan from the Undergraduate Accounting Program—successfully represented FEB UNS with their innovative business plan.

“Our team chose the Islamic Finance sub-theme, focusing on financial planning. The goal was to address the financial planning needs of Gen Z, particularly those from middle-income families who are part of the ‘sandwich generation,” Kharisma explained to feb.uns.ac.id.

She elaborated that the challenges faced by the sandwich generation, where young individuals bear financial responsibilities for their families, have become a significant topic among the youth. A survey conducted by CNBC Indonesia in 2021 revealed that 48.7% of the productive population aged 15–45 years belongs to this category.

Based on this problem, the team developed a business idea entitled: “zyfin.id (Zoya Fintech of Sharia): A Financial Planner Companion Platform with the Wakalah Method for Gen Z, Preparing the Sandwich Generation for a Financially Literate Future.”

The business idea aims to equip Gen Z with better financial planning skills, enabling them to prepare for their future while addressing the unique challenges faced by the sandwich generation within middle-income families.

In the competition, ten teams comprising three members each advanced to the final round. These teams represented universities such as Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA), Institut Agama Islam Tazkia Bogor, Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Politeknik Pembangunan Malang, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, and Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The competition stages included an initial selection where participants submitted a Business Model Canvas (BMC), a full business plan proposal, and a final pitching session before a panel of judges.

The FEB UNS team’s strategy began with thorough preparation, starting from selecting a relevant and pressing business topic—financial planning for youth. Following discussions, the team created their BMC and proposal by analyzing materials from previous winning submissions.

“In preparation for the finals, we worked on creating an engaging business PowerPoint presentation and practiced delivering our pitch to inspire the judges about our business plan. Alhamdulillah, our team secured third place in the FALAH 2024 Business Plan Competition,” Kharisma shared.

The competition presented numerous benefits Kharisma and her team. Besides gaining new insights into developing business ideas, they also learned from the creative business plans presented by other finalists.

Additionally, the questions posed by judges—experts in industrial engineering and management—provided valuable insights for refining future business plans.

“This competition taught us to be more creative in generating realistic business ideas. We also expanded our network by connecting with participants from other universities. Moreover, the excellent support and hospitality from the event organizers enhanced our experience,” she concluded.

The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), welcomed a collaborative visit from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Riau (UNRI), on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Meeting Room 1, Soeharno TS Building. The visit also marked the signing of a Collaboration Agreement (PKS) including a discussion on its implementation between FEB UNRI and FEB UNS. The delegation from UNRI was warmly received by Muhammad Yusuf Indra Purnama, S.E., M.Rech., Ph.D., Head of the Development Economics Undergraduate Program, along with several faculty members from FEB UNS.

Representing the faculty leadership, the Head of the Development Economics Program expressed a positive reception toward the UNRI delegation. “We greatly appreciate this collaborative initiative. Just last week, several other universities visited us with similar agendas. It’s clear that FEB UNRI shares the same enthusiasm. Together, we aim to advance by sharing knowledge and experiences. We hope that this agreement and its implementation will bring mutual benefits to both institutions,” he remarked.

Dr. Yusni Maulida, S.E., M.Si., Head of the Development Economics Department at FEB UNRI, emphasized that this collaborative effort aligns with FEB UNRI’s efforts to maintain the quality of its graduates and faculty members. In her remarks, she highlighted that the collaboration implementation serves as a foundation for the execution of the PKS between FEB UNRI and FEB UNS, particularly through the Independent Student Exchange Program (PMM) under the Independent Campus Competition Program (PKKM) of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) initiative.

As part of this collaboration, FEB UNRI has sent four students to participate in academic activities at FEB UNS for one semester during the 2024/2025 academic year.

“We hope this collaboration will continue in the coming years, extending beyond student exchange to include activities such as guest lectures and visiting lecturer programs. We aspire to explore and expand the scope of collaboration between the Development Economics programs of FEB UNRI and UNS,” she explained.

Following the signing ceremony, the FEB UNRI delegation engaged in further discussions with the Head and faculty members of the Development Economics Program at FEB UNS to deliberate on the details of the collaboration initiatives.

The people of Bagor Village enthusiastically participated in the “Grebeg Klobot” Festival on Sunday, October 13, 2024. A parade featuring 13 magnificent structures crafted from corn and other local produce, representing the output of each hamlet, showcased on the village square to celebrate the launch of Bagor Tourism Village.

This festival was part of a community engagement initiative carried out by three Research Groups (RG) from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), in Bagor Village, Miri Subdistrict, Sragen Regency.

The Local Wisdom Research Group (RG) initiated the cultural festival Grebeg Klobot, envisioning it as an annual tradition and a unique attraction for the village. The festival’s highlight, the “Grebeg Klobot,” featuring structures symbolizing the village’s main commodity, corn.

Marketing Research Group (RG) developed a dedicated website to promote the tourism village, enhancing its visibility and appeal to a broader audience. Meanwhile the Operation Management Research Group provided support in designing a detailed layout and tourism map, serving as a guide for future village development.

A symbolic ceremony was conducted to deliver the product of community research program from each Research Group. During the ceremony, representatives from each research group presented the output of their program to the local government, witnessed by the regent and officials from Miri Subdistrict.

A replica of the corn structure, symbolizing the icon of the tourism village, DEWI JAGUAR (Desa Wisata Kampung Jagung Bagor), was handed over by Sarwoto, Ph.D., on behalf of the Local Wisdom RG.

The tourism village website was officially presented by Prof. Budi Haryanto from the Marketing RG and the tourism map and layout were delivered by Miftachul Ma’arif, M.M., representing the Operations Management RG. This symbolic handover was part of the broader program to launch the tourism village.

It is expected that through this community service program conducted by FEB UNS, the aspiration of Bagor Village residents to have a tourism village can be achieved. Bagor Village aspires to establish itself as a tourism destination, supported by its strategic location within Sragen Regency’s “Golden Triangle” of tourism sites: Mount Kemukus, Kedung Ombo Reservoir, and Sangiran Site.

The name “DEWI JAGUAR” (abbrev. Desa Wisata Kampung Jagung Bagor) reflects the village’s identity as a major corn producer in the region. Corn was chosen as the village’s icon, considering that it is featured product of the village, inspiring the Grebeg Klobot Festival to highlight its agricultural strength.

The festival’s debut showcased exceptional creativity and enthusiasm. Each hamlet paraded its unique corn and agricultural displays from the village hall to the field, accompanied by traditional arts performances. A panel of judges, including cultural experts and representatives from UNS, evaluated the creations.

The community’s dedication and proactive efforts to develop the village into a tourism hub are key to sustaining this program. UNS remains committed to providing continuous support and mentorship to realize Bagor Village’s vision for DEWI JAGUAR.

At the conclusion of the event, Sarjiyanto, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Community Engagement Team and Head of External Funding at UNS’s Community Engagement Division, expressed his gratitude and optimism. “This year, UNS contributed IDR 12 million in total prizes for the Grebeg Klobot Festival. If the village continues to show commitment and enthusiasm, we are hopeful to extend even greater support next year,” he remarked.

The Undergraduate Management Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) hosted a Practitioner Lecture in Leadership taking on the theme “Managing Transformational Changes: What Leader’s Roles and Challenges?” The online session took place on Thursday, October 17, 2024, and was attended by over 100 participants. The session featured Dr. Rumaji, S.Sos., M.Sc., Department Head of Internal Oversight at PT Pelindo (Persero), as the keynote speaker.

In his presentation, Dr. Rumaji emphasized that organizations undertaking transformation need to consider numerous critical aspects. He highlighted that transformation must be thorough, well-structured, and systematic to mitigate the significant risks of failure associated with it.

“Many companies face challenges in achieving successful transformation. Data from various sources suggest that 70% to 80% of companies attempting transformation do not achieve their intended goals. In this context, leadership plays a crucial role, requiring leaders who are fully committed to the process,” Dr. Rumaji explained.

He outlined several factors contributing to unsuccessful transformations, where the first is due to an ‘Unclear Transformation Strategy.’ Transformations often fail due to poorly defined strategies. Clear goals must be set, outlining the purpose, scope, and key areas for transformation—whether in human resources, marketing, corporate strategy, or other sectors. A detailed approach considering strategic factors is essential.

Secondly, transformations that are merely cosmetic or symbolic often fail to address underlying issues. Dr. Rumaji stressed that focusing only on surface-level activities, without resolving core problems, renders the transformation ineffective. Effective transformation should target the root causes to ensure meaningful and efficient change.

The third affecting factor is due to Undefined Starting Position, where lack of clarity on the company’s current positioning, such as whether it is a market leader, follower, or in an intermediary role, often leads to failure. Without a clear understanding of its starting point, an organization cannot set appropriate transformation goals.

And lastly, transformations are often unsuccessful when carried out in a fragmented manner. Companies may focus on specific areas without integrating efforts across departments. Additionally, the varying capabilities of human resources must be addressed to ensure alignment throughout the organization.

Drawing from his experience, Dr. Rumaji shared insights from Pelindo’s transformation, initiated on October 1, 2021. Over the past three years, Pelindo has navigated the complexities of corporate and business transformation, which remain a dynamic and challenging process.

Through the lecture, participants gained a deeper understanding of the roles and challenges leaders face during transformational changes, along with practical insights from real-world applications. The session provided valuable perspectives for aspiring leaders preparing to guide organizations through significant changes.