The collaboration between Universitas Tarumanagara (Untar) and Universitas Udayana (Unud) in order to educate and assist disabled SME entrepreneurs was welcomed enthusiastically. As a form of implementation with Bali Regional Government, Untar with Unud held joint event in developing more than 100 SME entrepreneurs.

Started with a seminar titled “The Importance of SMEs for Tourism Industry Growth” on Friday (21/10) at Unud campus, this joint event then continued with intensive assistance through online and offline coaching clinic relating to skills owned by campus world. “The skills of lecturers and students in the fields of economics, marketing, communications, design, and technology, are expected to be able to support their business development,” said Rector in the opening.

Head of Business Incubator Unud Dr. drh. DN Dewi Indira Laksmi, M.Biomed. stated that the Covid-19 pandemic caused tourism industry in Bali to go up and down, even paralyzed, dropping to -12,32% on the third quarter.

“But in reality, during the pandemic, SMEs became the main mover of national economics, which rapidly adapted to technological changes, especially in transaction system. This collaboration with Unud is expected to become the way out for SMEs entrepreneurs in Bali, especially for the disabled entrepreneurs,” added Rector of Untar Prof. Dr. Ir. Agustinus Purna Irawan, M.T., M.M., I.P.U., ASEAN Eng.

Rector emphasized that this is a form of implementation of the cooperation between Bali Regional Government and Untar, which was signed on an MoU between Governor of Bali Dr. Ir. Wayan Koster, M.M. and Rector of Untar, when he gave Oration in the 80th Untar Graduation Ceremony, previous October.

On the same occasion, Head of Research and Community Engagement Institute (LPPM) Untar Ir. Jap Tji Beng, MMSI, M.Psi., Ph.D., M.AIS., M.APA. emphasized on programs conducted by Untar in developing entrepreneurship in the form of socialization, training, and assistance currently ongoing with SME partners in Jambi and Belitung.

This seminar also presented several Untar lecturers of various science fields, which are psychology, economics, communications, and design. Explanation of speaker Sri Tiatri, Ph.D., Psikolog helped strengthen disabled SME entrepreneurs to stay resilient, albeit the doubts given by the society. “Today’s event becomes a platform for SMEs, especially the disabled ones, to support each other and deelop themselves,” said Jigo, the owner of Jig-o-Jig, an SME. Through his effort of selling merchandise, starting from clothes to go green products such as bamboo straw, he expected disabled SMEs to be able to compete in international level.

“This collaboration between Untar and Unud provides knowledge for me and friends on the importance of digital technology development, in order for us not to fall behind and able to compete,” said Ms. Yustina, the owner of cassava chips enterprise chosen to be assisted by The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economics (Kemenparekraf).

Mr. I Gusti Komang Aryana, a blind entrepreneur who has undertaken massage business for 8 years, also stated that the current entrepreneurial trend has moved from analog-based to digital-based. “This make me very excited to participate in this seminar, as it is important for me to develop my business, especially through digital marketing presented. I hope similar programs will be held in the future as they are important for us in developing our businesses,” he said.

Lecturer of the Faculty of Economics and Business Untar Dra. Paula T. Anggarina, M.M. invited SME owners to adapt and start to utilize social media in developing their businesses. “As the era advances, we need to utilize digital world in order to keep up with the era. Businesses can be run in nontraditional ways, there are various marketplace even social media that can be utilized to develop businesses. Collaborating with customers in making social media contents, is a way to become more well-known,” stated the Head of Public Relations Office. Added by lecturer of Untar Maitri Mutiara, S.Sn., M.M. that product design and promotional contents are important to attract customers.