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The Behavioral Marketing Research Group (RG), Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Clinic and Business Incubator (KKIB), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), strengthened their partnership in developing a research-based startup incubation ecosystem through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. The forum served as an academic platform to examine the role of incubators in nurturing research-driven innovative business ideas within higher education institutions.

Dr. Ahmad Ikhwan Setiawan, Head of the Behavioral Marketing Research Group at FEB UNS, emphasized that business incubators are a critical foundation for supporting students and researchers in developing ideas, building business models, and receiving professional mentoring. He noted that incubators can accelerate the transformation of innovation into solutions that provide value and benefits to society.

Prof. Dr. Datien Eriska Utami from UIN RM Said highlighted the importance of establishing modern incubators as collaborative ecosystems that adapt to market dynamics and technological developments. She pointed out the need for multidisciplinary approaches, including product design, consumer behavior analysis, and digital marketing strategies, to ensure that tenants remain competitive. For her, the success of an incubator depends not only on physical facilities but also on strong mentoring networks, market access, and the integration of research outcomes with industry needs.

From the incubator management perspective, Dr. Idris, Head of KKIB UNDIP, explained that universities must provide an enabling environment for startup growth. This includes space for creativity, experimentation, and a strong culture of innovation. He added that institutional policies, research support, and industry partnerships are essential factors that enable startups to grow from idea development to commercialization.

Through this FGD, both institutions agreed to strengthen research collaboration, share best practices, and promote the development of an incubator model capable of supporting the emergence of competitive startups at the national level. This collaboration is expected to enhance the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem while contributing to national innovation and competitiveness.

This incubation initiative aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) through improved research-based entrepreneurship capacity; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through the creation of new business opportunities and the strengthening of the creative economy; and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the advancement of innovation ecosystems, industry collaboration, and research commercialization in higher education institutions.

Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), continues its commitment to career development by organizing Pre-Job Training Batch 2, a program designed to reinforce students’ readiness for the dynamics and challenges of the modern job market. The event, attended by more than 200 students, takes place at the Soedarah Soepono Hall, FEB UNS, on Monday, 17 November 2025.

The session, which presents two FEB UNS alumni as speakers, is opened by Tastaftiyan Risfandy, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs FEB UNS. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that the program provides an important platform for students to understand any relevant competencies required in the current and future industry needs. “Students must be able to recognize the direction of industrial change, understand the competencies that you will need, prepare for it, and build the confidence needed to pursue their career paths,” he stated.

In the first session, Adhi Rohman Tri Widagdo, Senior Analyst II Financing at PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk., shares insights on financial competencies, business analysis, and the growing demand for human resources capable of adapting to developments in sustainable energy. Adhi highlights the changing landscape of the labor market shaped by digital transformation, automation and AI, and the transition toward sustainable and green industries. He emphasizes that graduates today must go beyond theoretical knowledge to develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, technological literacy, data proficiency, communication skills, and creativity.

Adhi also discusses the trivium approach—grammar, rhetoric, and logic—which he describes as an essential foundation of higher education, shaping students’ language proficiency, persuasive communication, and analytical reasoning.  “The job market does not reward those who are simply the smartest, but those who are adaptive, ethical, and committed to continuous growth. Build relationships, learn from experience, and remain humble,” he advised.

The next session is delivered by Syaiful Amri, Sub Branch Head KCPS Klaten, Bank BTN, who explains the development of the banking industry, particularly the housing finance sector. He outlines the strategic role of Bank BTN as a pioneer in the national housing market, having financed more than five million mortgage units, including 300 thousand Sharia-based mortgages.

Syaiful further discusses key employment issues, including the competency gap (vertical mismatch) between graduates and corporate needs, the high proportion of workers earning below regional minimum wage standards, and challenges in housing affordability due to rising property prices. He also encourages students to develop clear and purposeful career plans. “Self-awareness matters. You must know where you want to work, what contribution you want to make, the salary you expect, and what you can provide for your parents. Do not become a confused graduate,” he emphasized.

Syaiful encourages students to build networks, research prospective companies, and create step-by-step career target lists. He concludes his session with a reflective message:
“We each have our own timeline. Keep moving, stay humble, and be willing to learn. If you cannot be the solution, at least do not add to the burden. Your hard work today may be strengthened by your mother’s prayers.”

This 2^nd Batch of Pre-Job Training serves as one of FEB UNS’s strategic initiatives to connect students with contemporary industry requirements. Through insights on emerging competency trends, sectoral developments, and mental preparedness, the program contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of FEB UNS graduates in the job market.

The initiative also aligns with FEB UNS’s contribution to sustainable development, particularly in advancing human resource competence, career literacy, and industry awareness relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those concerning quality education, decent work, and sustainable economic growth.

Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) organizes Academic Support Staff Training on Performance Optimization on Friday, 7 November 2025, at the Soedarah Soepono Building Hall. The program is designed for FEB UNS Academic Support Staff, featuring Heri Susilo, a Happiness Motivator and author who actively provides education on personal development and productivity.

During his presentation, Heri delivers material titled “The Happiness Trap: Finding Peace Amid Pressure.” He explains that many individuals unconsciously fall into the expectation of being constantly happy, a condition that often intensifies dissatisfaction and anxiety. He emphasizes that genuine happiness does not arise from avoiding difficulties, but from the ability to find meaning in every stage of life.

Participants also learn the Late Happiness Model, which consists of four steps: Let it flow, Appreciate the process, Embrace meaning, and Transform pain. The model offers practical guidance for accepting emotions, appreciating work processes, and transforming challenges into personal strengths.

Aside from the main presentation, the training also includes interactive sessions such as the Feeling Game and leadership roleplay designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and group dynamic sensitivity. Heri also introduces the concept of Expand Your State, described as the ability to broaden one’s internal capacity to better manage work-related pressures. Concluding the session, participants explore the Energy Investment concept, which comprises four elements: Resources, Attention, Effort, and Time. This energy management framework serves as an essential strategy for achieving optimal performance while maintaining mental balance in the workplace.

Participants demonstrate strong enthusiasm throughout the program. Many actively engage in discussions, share experiences regarding workplace pressures, and practice emotional management techniques introduced by the speaker. Additionally, the roleplay and Feeling Game sessions also generate high participation, reflected through group interactions, communication practice, and simulated work scenarios. Positive responses emerge as participants encounter practical concepts applicable to daily routines, including strategies for managing energy, strengthening positive mindsets, and addressing minor conflicts in the work environment.

The training provides Academic Support Staff not only with new knowledge but also with opportunities to build stronger working relationships and enhance well-being in fulfilling daily responsibilities. This initiative aligns with FEB UNS’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Through this program, FEB UNS continues to promote a healthy, productive, and sustainable work environment.

Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), organizes Sharing Session for UNS Global Challenge 2026 to strengthen students’ readiness for international mobility programs. The session is conducted virtually on Friday, 14 November 2025, featuring Tastaftiyan Risfandy, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs at FEB UNS, and Adinda Yuddiearth, a Development Economics student and Awardee of the 2025 UNS Global Challenge program at Audencia Business School, France.

Tastaftiyan Risfandy, Ph.D., provides a comprehensive explanation of the requirements, timeline, and selection procedures both for the university-level and faculty-level registration pathways. For the university-level pathway, the provision states that applicant should be an active student status of at least the third semester. Additionally, they must provide a Letter of Acceptance from partner universities and a proof of English proficiency (optional). The program is scheduled for April–July 2026 and providing a fully funded scheme options.

Meanwhile, the faculty-level pathway targets students from the sixth semester (at least) and requires proof of English proficiency, where the selection process consists of two interview stages. This faculty-level pathway program runs from April to September 2026 with co-funding or fully funded schemes.

Tastaftiyan also outlines the complete timeline, ranging from registration and selection processes to announcement and final report submission. Additionally, students receive information regarding funding components, including airfare, visa fees, and living allowance for selected participants according to each pathway’s provisions. This dissemination is intended to provide students with a comprehensive understanding for the academic planning, administrative preparation, and strategies to maximize their chances of admission into the program.

The second speaker, Adinda, shares her experience participating in the Short Course on Cross Cultural Management at Audencia Business School, France, held from 23 to 27 June. By participating in the program she gains intensive learning combining theory, case studies, class discussions, and group projects with students from various countries. The multicultural learning environment offers her deep insights into how culture influences communication, work styles, and team dynamics in global economic and business contexts.

“The class was super insightful and meaningful. The mentor was truly an expert in the field. The sessions were highly interactive, with workshops, case discussion groups, and a final individual presentation on the last day. The class was incredibly diverse, with participants from Brazil, Hong Kong, the UK, Ukraine, France, and the Netherlands. Participants are coming from various majors, not only economics but also politics and science. This diversity leads to a wide range of perspectives in the discussion session. I learned that the more diverse an environment is—whether in school or business—the greater the perspectives that help us grow,” she explained.

In her presentation, Adinda also describes the preparation steps she does before joining the program, including compiling required documents, preparing an activity plan relevant to her academic field, conducting research on the host university, and managing technical preparations such as budgeting and academic scheduling.

“I highly recommend organizing everything thoroughly. I used spreadsheets and Notion to list countries, universities, and open programs, and to track which institutions had been contacted, including the email content. Some universities do not list their short courses on their websites, or the information is hard to find. Therefore, students need to contact the universities directly to confirm availability and alignment with the Global Challenge timeline,” she said.

She also shares several recommendations for students interested in international programs, such as preparing the Letter of Acceptance well in advance, selecting programs aligned with academic goals, and maintaining good communication with the UNS International Office.

This activity reinforces UNS’s commitment to advancing internationalization and enhancing student capacity through global learning experiences. The program also aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening learning quality through international exposure, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through expanded collaboration with global educational institutions.