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The rapid development of the creative industry and the tourism sector has its own appeal to encourage regional economic growth. The development of the creative economy in Indonesia is currently focused on 16 sub-sectors, in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 6 of 2015 concerning the Creative Economy Agency, namely culinary, architecture, product design, interior design, graphic design, film, animation and video, music, fashion, performing arts, games and applications, crafts, radio and television, fine arts, advertising, photography, and publishing.

Seeing the condition and uniqueness of each region opens a vast opportunity to develop this creative industry and tourism economic sector as a potential “niche market” commonly called Niche Market Destination. The function of the market niche itself is to classify the economic sector, in this discussion is the creative industry and tourism. For example, Surakarta City is well-known for its culture and batik production industry. This aspect is known as the market niche of each region, which has its own characteristics as a potential economic resource for the region.

In response to this situation, the Business Management Agency (BPU) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Business Gathering with Regulators and Industry, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the Soedarah Soepono Building Hall FEB UNS.

The FGD entitled “Acceleration of Tourism Industry and Creative Economy Development in Central Java” presented three speakers, Purwanto, SH., M.Par, Plt. (Acting Officer) Head of the Central Java Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office; Parmin Sastro Wijono, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI); Prof. Agung Nur Probohudono, SE, M.Si., Ph.D., Ak., CA., FEB UNS Academician.

Purwanto, SH., M.Par., in his presentation conveyed the priorities of regional development in Central Java in 2023, namely through increasing community-based eco-socio-tourism and the environment through improving tourism destination facilities, increasing tourism promotion, increasing accessibility, and optimizing the role of private and community in the tourism industry.

The support programs and activities carried out by the government include the construction of a Toll Road for the Solo-Jogja track, Bawen-Jogja track, Ahmad Yani Airport, and Adi Sumarmo track, improving roads and trans-Jateng transportation, intermodal intelligent platforms for train stations and terminals.

In terms of attractions, the government has hosted various events such as Sports Tourism Tour De Borobudur, the Borobudur Marathon, World Wayang Way, Supermoon Festival, Music, Socio-Cultural Events, Edutainment Tourism, performances in 20 tourist villages, and many others. The local government has also coordinated the arrangement of the area, the management of homestays, the arrangement of parking areas and traders (Pasar Kujon), and the construction of the grand mosque.

Purwanto further explained the potential of the creative economy in Central Java. The leading sub-sectors of the creative economy in Central Java are Fashion (40.40%), Culinary (30.01%), and Crafts (15.00%). Meanwhile, the highest growth was in the Television and Radio, Film, Animation, Video, Performing Arts, and Visual Communication Design sub-sectors.

Meanwhile, Prof. Agung Nur Probohudono said that the development of the tourism sector is very important because it can create jobs, increase income, and encourage local governments to build and maintain infrastructure so that the quality of life of the local community also increases. Central Java has 1,130 tourist attractions with 418 natural attractions, 175 cultural tourism, 365 artificial tourism, 76 special interest tourism, and 96 other tourist attractions.

“Good governance is needed, thus, all tourist attractions in Central Java can grow and be sustainable. Good governance includes 5 principles of Good Corporate Governance, namely transparency, fairness, independence, and accountability,” he said.

Furthermore, universities hold an important and strategic role in developing and advancing the tourism sector and creative economy growth, especially in enhancing human resources contribution through learning, research, and community service activities. Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association explained the key factors for the success of the tourism industry including product, customer care, location, environment, realistic cost, and strategic marketing.

This agenda also marks a partnership signatory ceremony between FEB UNS and Lawu Park. The partnership was signed by the Vice Dean of Planning, Business Partnership, and Information FEB UNS, Dr. Mugi Harsono, SE, MSi., and Parmin Sastro Wijono from Lawu Park.

Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, presented five international academics in the International Seminar 2023: A Lecture on Circular Economy, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise and Islam.

The agenda organized as part of the 47th UNS Anniversary celebration, was conducted virtually on Tuesday (03/21/2023). The agenda supported by the UNS Innovation Hub and LinkUp! was attended by more than 250 participants consisting of lecturers, students, and general participants.

Opening the seminar, Prof. Djoko Suhardjanto, the Dean of FEB UNS, expressed his gratitude to all speakers who have been willing to attend and deliver materials at the FEB UNS 2023 International Seminar. “I am thrilled because the current occasion can present an opportunity for us to learn from each other regarding ideas and best practices in the circular economy and Islam. I hope the participants can be actively involved in today’s discussion,” said Prof. Djoko. Prof. Djoko also hopes that today’s agenda will result in meaningful collaboration.

The first keynote speaker who delivered the material at this seminar was Prof. Khaleed Soufani from the University of Cambridge, UK, presenting topics related to the relationship between sustainability, circular economy, impact investing, and Islam. According to him, the current world conditions are filled with disruptions in the field of technology, social, and the environment.

“We are currently in the position of over-consumption, over-producing, and over-trading, these three conditions cause large amounts of waste and negatively affect environmental conditions,” explained Prof. Khaleed.

The second keynote speaker who attended the event virtually was from Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, namely Prof. Abdul Mu’ti. In his presentation, Prof. Mu’ti revealed that Islam is a complete religion that teaches and regulates many things in human life.

“The Islamic economy teaches us the importance of material property as part of the wealth and prosperity of Muslims. The protection of wealth remains part of Islamic teachings, although Islam also prohibits the accumulation of wealth in one person or small group, which then ignores the problems that arise in society,” explained Prof. Mu’ti.

In the second session of the seminar, three academics delivered different materials in sequence in a plenary session led by Dr. Putra Pamungkas from FEB UNS. The three speakers invited for this session were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thuanthong Krutchon from Thaksin University Thailand, Dr. Rudi Natamiharja from the University of Lampung, and Dr. Tastaftiyan Risfandy from FEB UNS.

For about thirty minutes, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thuanthong shared his experience in implementing circular economy in Thailand, covering three aspects namely Bioeconomy, Circular Economy, and Green Economy (BCG). The implementation of BCG is also connected to national development targets.

Following material from Dr. Thuanthong, Dr. Rudi explained the topic related to legal protection for MSMEs in Indonesia. In his presentation entitled ‘Indonesian Legal Guarantee on the Welfare of MSMEs,’ Dr. Rudi discussed in detail the regulations that form the basis of legal protection for MSMEs both at the international, national, and legal protection for MSME rights in carrying out economic activities in Indonesia.

The last speaker, Dr. Tastafiyan presented the material entitled “Islamic Banks’ Governance: A key success for Islamic banking development.”

Starting the presentation, Dr. Tastaftiyan stated that, “Islamic banks were formed to reduce the distance between the poor and the rich. Moreover, Islamic banks also serves the role to provide credit for MSMEs. In terms of the development of Islamic banks, there are many aspects that need to be improved,” said Dr. Tastafiyan.

In this presentation, Dr. Tastaftiyan also shared the results of his research entitled ‘Excess remuneration, governance, and risk-taking in Islamic banks,’ in collaboration with Prof. M. Kabir Hassan. He revealed that the motivation for the study is due to the high level of remuneration for company executives.

“The implication of the results of this research is that good monitoring activities carried out by the Board of Directors and the Sharia Board can reduce risk-taking incentives, which then encourage the progress of Islamic banks. For this reason, policymakers need to establish a good remuneration scheme, especially for BoD and SSB members.”

The seminar, which lasted about three hours, went seamlessly. Participants are very enthusiastic about following the course of the seminar proven by the active discussion between participants with all the speakers

The Business Management Agency (BPU) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) – Business Gathering with Regulators and Industry entitled “Agile Performance Management to Achieve Optimum Return,” Monday, March 20, 2023, at the Ki Hajar Dewantara Building Ballroom (UNS Tower).

In the FGD, BPU presented three speakers, Ahmad Sumbalawi (Director of Human Resources 9) with material on Industrial Job Opportunities and Preparing Human Resources that Support the Company’s Sustainable Competitive Advantage; Rosanto Adi (Director of Rosalia) with material on Implementation of Higher Education Partner Internship System that Adds Value to Industrial Productivity; and Prof. Dr. Tulus Haryono M.Ek., (FEB UNS Lecturer) with the material of Higher Education Strategy to Improve the Quality of MBKM Program (Merdeka Belajar and Kampus Merdeka) in Supporting the Synergy in Human Resources Quality Growth.

The Vice Dean of Planning, Business Partnership, and Information FEB UNS, Dr. Mugi Harsono, SE, M.Sc., in his speech, said that since information technology is unstoppable and changes can occur at any time, the approach implemented in the education sector must also be adjusted.

“Agile performance management is one of the solutions for companies that are in a turbulent situation to get optimal results. Proof of agile process is the presence of a comparison process between owner, management, and employee, where all of the stakeholders can make decisions, because maybe in every line, whether employees, management, or owner have information or experiences that are used to formulate company strategies. It is on this basis that we sit together in this FGD to get experiences from speakers, Mr. Ahmad Sumbalawi and Mr. Rosanto Adi and philosophically strengthened by Prof. Tulus,” he explained.

Furthermore, it is impossible to solve problems alone in the face of these conditions, there needs to be a mutual awareness to hold hands or collaborate between academics, business, and government, requiring a close hand-to-hand struggle to reach agreements. Before the discussion session started, the event was marked by the signing of a partnership between FEB and various agencies invited to the agenda. The goal is to take and give to each other. This partnership will lead to Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM).

In MBKM, there was a revolution in the learning process, students had the opportunity to understand the real world. Students may be allowed to take courses for 3 or 4 semesters outside their study program, for one full semester they may take an internship program at the company of their selection, or to serve in the community, thus, students can gain hands-on experience when they graduate. On the other hand, MBKM also provides opportunities for practitioners to become lecturers on campus.

At the end of his remarks, Dr. Mugi hoped that this FGD activity would provide many benefits, thus, Universities will not become ivory towers whose buildings are towering but do not take root downwards or on the contrary, the government needs academic studies, thus, the policies made can have a philosophy, as well as from business experts, academics need experience and conceptual additions.

The FGD led by Sarjiyanto, SE, MBA, Ph.D., FEB UNS academics, went interactively with responses and questions from discussion participants who consisted of partner agencies for the students’ internship programs.