BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and start-up are the ‘backbones’ of national economy which contributes for Indonesian economic growth. To optimize the movement of MSMEs and start-up’s growth, it requires a capacity building from the academician as part of implementation of University Tri Dharma.
One of the teachers in Universitas Pasundan, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Science, who are concerned of community service on MSMEs and entrepreneurship development is Dr. Dindin Abdurohim Brata Sonjaya, MM., M.Si. He has finished his third service in 2010 and has been consistently carrying out expertise through service program for MSMEs and start-ups.
In carrying out his service, he utilized the mono-year and multi-year schemes offered by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (now Kemendikbudristek), internal funding from FISIP and universities, as well as collaboration with other parties such as Ministries, Regional, Provincial and City/Regency Governments.
“The programs carried out are about capacity development of entrepreneurship, MSMEs and superior SMEs, especially in the city and Bandung District. It is certainly adjusted to my expert and competence in Business Administration,” he said.
He also has already got international certificate in Training of Trainer (ToT) of Entrepreneurship and SMEs (EDI-India) as the reviewer for service program.
His contribution in MSMEs and entrepreneurship also made him be appointed to be coordinator of a program held by West Java Provincial Government (led by Ahmad Heryawan) for the creation of 1000 new entrepreneurs for three batches in a row.
Currently, he was also asked for developing the program for Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DPW) in West Bandung District. The purpose of the program was to improve their role as the organizer/administrator and member in taking advantages of opportunities. Therefore, it can create an independent business which is useful for realizing the vision and mission of West Bandung District Government.
“I tried to find the problem, potential and opportunity which should be understood, by giving general knowledge about womenpreneur, so they could have as spirit of entrepreneurship. Then, I also identified the problem which was commonly found and faced by womenpreneur,” he continued.
He thought, womenpreneur often faced several problems about the demands and roles. On one side, they should take care of being a wife and mother; meanwhile on the other side, they also face the opportunity which cannot be wasted easily.
“This is the problem which makes them pass the opportunity in improving DWP program. They are also not in their optimal effort in carrying out partner, collaboration and synergy. So, the idea and thoughts of developing the program have not been fully able to be a place for both member and organizer’s aspiration,” he explained.
Apart from classic problems of capital limitation, human resources, lack of entrepreneurial spirt, clear vision and mission, creativity and innovation which are not fully used, management skills, as well as the understanding of market potential, the MSMEs entrepreneurs are also considered lacking of adaptation to digital era.
As time passes by, the demand keeps changing. By the occurrence of the 4.0 industrial revolution, the MSMEs entrepreneurs should transform and adapt themselves to the digital and keep themselves updated.
“The first solution is to take transformation of the mindset, because both market and consumer’s behaviour are now different. Today, we are facing the millennials, so we should adjust ourselves with their demands. When Covid-19 has just struck in, I took collaboration with various experts, improving potential MSMEs to switch to the digital ones. Alhamdulillah, these MSMEs passed and got into the pilot of 2020 e-Commerce Shopee Indonesia,” he concluded. (Reta)*
