The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at Yogyakarta State University (UNY) conducted a benchmarking visit to Telkom University and the Indonesian Education University (UPI) in Bandung on Thursday, May 16th. The purpose of this visit was to gain valuable insights and knowledge in curriculum development and to prepare for the launch of new study programs at FEB UNY.

During the first visit to Telkom University, the FEB UNY delegation—comprising 14 members, including the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, the Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni, the Vice Dean for General Financial Planning and Resources, task force members, and public relations staff—was warmly welcomed in the Manterawu Meeting Room of Telkom University's Faculty of Communication and Business. They were greeted by Dr. Freddy Yusanto, Vice Dean I of the Faculty of Communication and Business, Dr. Ahmad Yunani, Head of the Business Administration Study Program, and other faculty members.

In his welcome speech, Dr. Freddy highlighted Telkom University's implementation of an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) curriculum, where assessments are based on the attainment of desired Course Learning Outcomes (CLO). He explained that Telkom University's academic management system, Igrasias, is aligned with OBE principles, facilitating automated evaluations and an integrated assessment process. Notably, Telkom University replaces traditional mid-term and final exams with a continuous assessment system.

Dr. Freddy also shared plans to transition the Business Administration Study Program from the Faculty of Communication and Business to the Faculty of Economics and Business at Telkom University in the coming year.

Dr. Sutirman, M.Pd., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of FEB UNY, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and emphasized the desire to learn from Telkom University's experience. He sought insights on various aspects, including the vision, mission, and objectives of study programs, student learning outcomes, curriculum structure, management, learning facilities, development strategies, graduate employability, and quality assurance processes.

Following the visit to Telkom University, the FEB UNY delegation proceeded to the Faculty of Economics and Business Education at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (FPEB UPI) in Bandung. They were welcomed by Dr. Toni Heryana, Vice Dean for Resources and Finance, the Head of the Undergraduate Study Program in Business Education, and other lecturers and staff from relevant study programs at FPEB UPI. This visit provided a platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences between the two institutions.

At UPI Bandung, discussions centered on the development of new study programs and strategies for enhancing educational quality. The Vice Dean for Academic, Student, and Alumni Affairs of FEB UNY expressed an interest in integrating Business Education into the Management Study Program, while FPEB UPI shared their plans to establish new master's and doctoral study programs, as well as achievements in program accreditation.

This exchange of ideas and presentations of visions and missions created a significant opportunity for strengthening inter-university collaboration. It is hoped that these discussions will positively contribute to the development of FEB UNY's curriculum and study program management, ultimately enriching Indonesia's higher education landscape. (isti/lina)

This year, the Faculty of Economics and Business at Yogyakarta State University (FEB UNY) has been chosen to host the 11th Congress of the Association of Faculties of Economics and Business of Indonesia (AFEBI). AFEBI consists of the Faculty of Economics and Business from 80 universities in Indonesia. The attendees on this occasion were 70 universities. The 11th AFEBI Congress activities were centered at the Eastparc Yogyakarta Hotel on Wednesday–Thursday (29–30/11). The 11th AFEBI Congress raised the theme "Optimizing the Role of the Faculty of Economics and Business in Developing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to Realize Economic Independence." The series of activities in the framework of the 11th AFEBI Congress in Yogyakarta this year on the first day included: AFEBI National Executive Board Meeting; International Accreditation Mentorship Workshop; Study Program Association Forum; and Welcome Dinner. While on the second day, seminars and discussion forums were held.

The AFEBI National Executive Board meeting was chaired directly by the chairman of AFEBI for the 2022–2025 period, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahman Kadir, S.E., M.Si., CIPM. The International Accreditation Mentorship Workshop event provides enlightenment and consultation for the Faculty of Economics and Business who want to apply for AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) international accreditation. The mentors who assisted this workshop were: Arief Wibisono Lubis, S.E., M.F.M., M.Sc., Ph.D. and Yeshika Alversia, M.Sc. from FEB UI, Mandra Lazuardi, Ph.D., and Dr. Yuanita Handayati from the School of Business and Management ITB.

This congress also held a forum for the Association of Study Programs in Economics and Business. This forum aims to equalize perceptions related to curriculum development and increase cooperation in the fields of academics, research, and community services. The Study Program Association Forum is divided into 6 groups, namely: Management study program, Accounting study program, Development Economics study program, Islamic Economics study program, Master study program, and Doctoral study program. In addition to the agenda of scientific activities, on the first day, a welcome dinner was also held at Rama Shinta Garden Resto Prambanan. This Welcome Dinner event also witnessed the Ramayana dance performance as a form of introduction to Javanese culture for congress participants who came from various regions of Indonesia.

The agenda for the second day began with the opening ceremony of the congress. At the opening ceremony, an activity report was submitted by the host, namely the Dean of FEB UNY, Dr. Siswanto, M.Pd., remarks from the chairman of AFEBI, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahman Kadir, S.E., M.Si., CIPM, and remarks from the Rector of Yogyakarta State University. After the opening, the congress continued with a national seminar and discussion forum on education. The AFEBI Congress national seminar discussed the topic of efforts and strategies for the development of MSMEs in Indonesia. The speakers came from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs; the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology; and business practitioners. The resource person from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs was represented by the Deputy for Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Ir. Siti Azizah, MBA. The resource person from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology was represented by the President Director of Smesco Indonesia, Leonard Theosabrata. Meanwhile, business practitioners were presented by the CEO of Mboc Group, Handoko Hendroyono. (tian/lina/isti)

The village is one of the smallest government units that has direct contact with the community. Therefore, the role of villages in helping to realize community prosperity and welfare is very significant. Through the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Kemendes), village governments can play a role in improving the welfare of their citizens. Currently, Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) have been established in many regions in Indonesia, but they are still not optimal. Harlina Sulistyorini, Director General of Economic Development and Investment in Villages, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration delivered her speech in a practitioner lecture at the Faculty of Economics and Business UNY, on Wednesday (1/11).

The Dean of FEB Prof. Dr. Siswanto in his welcome speech said that FEB UNY has its focus on developing UKM (Small and Medium Enterprises). "The core of FEB UNY is the development of MSMEs and of course, most of them are in villages. There are not as many national and international companies as there are MSMEs. "The topic of SME development is also one of the focuses at the AFEBI meeting at FEB UNY this year," he explained.

The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs of UNY, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M. Kes., AIFO. officially opened the event. “UNY and the Ministry of Village are like brothers because the minister is also a UNY graduate. Many village people have gone to the city, but in the city, there are already many great people. Why don't we build villages? UNY has the “Kampung Emas” (Golden Village) or “UNY Bangun Desa" (UNY Build Villages) program which this year is taking place in Seyegan. "We help develop village income generation," he explained.

Harlina invited students to identify potentials in their villages that could be developed and become a source of welfare for their residents. Dwi, one of the students from Wonogiri said that the business in his village that has been handed down for generations is traditional herbal medicine, but now its glory is disappearing even before they were born. Innovation is certainly needed to revive and rebuild the reputation of traditional herbal medicine. Speech by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs

“There must be product empowerment through BUMDes. If necessary, villages should not only create their BUMDes but also establish BUMDes between villages," explained Harlina.

Harlina emphasized that BUMDes can engage in various types of businesses, including natural resource management, cultural management and preservation, processing and increasing added value based on local resources, microfinance services, internet management, acting as an intermediary for goods, services, and agencies, and more. However, it is important for BUMDes not to compete with community businesses, especially those at the individual and household scale, in order to avoid harming them. "BUMDes must be able to trigger the growth of community economic businesses," continued Harlina. (fdhl)

Education is life-long, this expression is always relevant, and this is what Dr. Seloamoney Palaniandy, an educator who visited FEB UNY this month. The educator who is active at the University of Goroka, Papua New Guinea, gave a short lecture to undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students at FEB UNY. More than 300 students attended the event held in the Auditorium of FEB UNY. The event was moderated by lecturer Nindya Nuriswati Laili, M.Sc. in the session with undergraduate students and by Arum Darmawati, M.M. in the session with master and doctoral students.

In his lecture, Selva invited undergraduate students to improve themselves. The current challenge is Artificial Intelligence (AI) which threatens some professions. “Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower, 673,485 out of 8.42 million unemployed people come from college graduates. The issue that now arises is the inability of graduates to get opportunities that match their field of knowledge,” he explained. 

Selva throws around the term, ‘Graduate Marketability’ which he refers to as compatibility to enter the job market. “It can also mean how we make our skills more attractive before recruiters. Meanwhile, ‘Graduate Employability’ is the ability of graduates to get a job after graduation. In other words, the ability of graduates to use their skills and knowledge to get a job,” Selva added.

As for the master and doctoral students, Selva encouraged them to write more and produce quality research. "Good research is an accepted standard that is bound or built upon quality norms widely accepted by members of the academic community," he explained.

According to Selva, several things make a thesis or dissertation flawed. "To mention a few, unclear direction/topic/theme, weak background problems, irrelevant or out-of-date literature, unsuitable methodology and measurement tools, biased statements or mixed personal opinions, citing unknown journals or authors, and chapter arrangements that are not balanced/organized/well intertwined," he continued. (tian/fdhl)