The program, which will induct its second batch this year, helps students gain the skills to become entrepreneurs through activities in and out of the classroom, which can be equalized as semester credits.
"It is crucial to prepare students with skills that are adjusted to their passion, with basic competency from the university and Kampus Merdeka (Independent University) programs to be more ready in facing the future," the ministry's acting director general for higher education, research, and technology Nizam said here on Friday.
The program is one of the flagship programs in the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) policy framework that offers students opportunities to gain experiences of learning outside the classroom that are adjusted to their passion.
The first batch of the program involved 17 selected universities that had entrepreneurship and business fields, institutions, or incubators as implementing universities.
As many as 11,716 students from 87 public universities and 366 private universities participated in learning activities at the 17 implementing universities.
Through the program, students who have an interest and potential in entrepreneurship receive competency training in it.
Students participating in the program can also improve their entrepreneurial capabilities through practicum or internships and increase their entrepreneurial experience through idea development or business implementation.
Besides concepts and theories, the program, which has been designed by universities together with business partners and industries, also covers practical activities.
It aims to provide complete experience and learning related to entrepreneurship with learning models that align with vocational education.
Registrations for the second batch of the program have opened with a target of attracting 12 thousand participants.
Chairperson of the Independent Entrepreneurship program Gamaliel Waney said that the second batch of students will learn, seek experience, and engage in entrepreneurial practices directly at around 30 implementing universities with excellent entrepreneurship programs.
He expressed the hope that the program would positively impact the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, both in the short term and long term.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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