The Indonesian Association of Islamic Economists (IAEI) in collaboration with PT Pegadaian and the Economics and Business Faultas of Andalas University successfully held The Gade Sociopreneurship Goes To Campus (TGSC) Roadshow with the theme “Young Generation Innovations Towards a Sustainable Future”, on Thursday (3/10) at Andalas University, Padang.
Prof. Dr. Syukri Arief, M.Eng, Vice Rector I of Andalas University, started the event with his speech. According to him, this activity is expected to encourage students to participate in becoming MSME actors as sociopreneurs. TGSC provides opportunities for Andalas University students to compete in this competition in answering existing challenges and problems.
“Usually student ideas are more 'naughty' and creative than lecturers in their work. Hopefully this competition will encourage students to become innovative sociopreneurs and be able to have a good impact on the environment,” he said.
Dede Kurniawan, Head of Regional Office II Pekanbaru of PT Pegadaian, said this activity also aims to provide economic and financial literacy to students. It is not uncommon for students to experience difficulties regarding finance. Pegadaian is present in the midst of society, especially students, in solving problems without problems, in the form of Gold Savings products.
“Pegadaian has the goal of packaging Indonesia for Indonesia Emas 2045. I advise students to open a digital Gold Savings at Pegadaian. After graduating from college, they are expected to have one gram of gold, which can be used as business capital or others,” said Dede Kurniawan.
Edo Pratama, Branch Manager of Pegadaian Syariah Ujung Gurun, reminded students to avoid financial traps, in the form of FOMO which causes wastefulness so that they are trapped in online loans (pinjol) or paylater. According to him, the college period should be a moment of self-development to prepare for the future. You can start by saving money. Pegadaian can be an option for saving with various products, namely gold savings, gold installments, garbage in exchange for gold.
“Students can also join this TGSC to start doing business, become sociopreneurs who have a good impact on humans and nature,” he said.
Tatiek Kancaniati, Member of the Social Entrepreneurship Development and Community Empowerment Division of the DPP IAEI, said capital is needed to start a business. According to her, capital is not only about money, empathy and wanting to create solutions to problems in the surrounding environment are also important.
“If someone is given capital and uses it for personal and business interests, then he is called an entrepreneur. However, if someone uses capital for the public interest, then he is a sociopreneur. This is the person that society needs,” he said.
Furthermore, the difference between a sociopreneur and an entrepreneur is the problem and empathy. Someone understands the problems in their environment, then builds a business to overcome these problems, including involving the community. The community will be involved and empowered through Participatory Model, Capacity Building Model, and Economic Empowerment.
“Students can become sociopreneurs, by having social mission/impact, empowerment, and sustainability capital,” said Tatiek.
Suhatril, S.T., M.T., Owner of KejuLasi Business, is one example of a sociopreneur in Agam Regency, West Sumatra. Suhatril built the business based on two aspects, namely the potential that exists in the Nagari and the existing local wisdom approach. He sees the agricultural sector as a potential business in West Sumatra.
“The potential of West Sumatra is the agricultural sector, although it is hampered by land disputes and customs. However, I do not hesitate to build a business in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Furthermore, the business potential in the agricultural sector is greater, but it is not well managed, many farmers are not prosperous and facilities are inadequate. Ideally, we should cultivate agriculture, process products, and market agricultural products to increase the entrepreneurship ratio in Indonesia.
“The entrepreneurship ratio in Indonesia is still at the level of 3.47%, while Malaysia has reached >4.7%, Thailand >4.2%, Singapore at the level of 8.9%. If Indonesia wants to become a developed country, it must have an entrepreneurship / MSME ratio at the level of 8 - 10%,” said Suhatril.
Becoming a sociopreneur can increase this ratio. Sociopreneur can be achieved, if we see the potential that exists and develop it well. The Gade Sociopreneurship Challenge (TGSC) 2024 is a suitable platform for budding sociopreneurs, especially students, a competition for creative ideas and incubation of social entrepreneurship.
