Pekanbaru, UnriNews - Riau University (Unri) held the Grand Launching of the Independent Entrepreneurship Program (WMK) Youth Action Batch III with the theme "Independent Entrepreneurship for Competent, Achieving and Entrepreneurial Indonesian Human Resources". The activity was held at the Pangeran Pekanbaru Hotel (01/10/2024).
The Acting Governor of Riau, represented by the Head of the Vocational School Division of the Riau Provincial Education Office, Dr. Arden Simeru SPd MKom, opened the Grand Launching directly.
On that occasion, the Acting Governor of Riau welcomed Unri's trust as one of the Universities implementing WMK for the 3rd time by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek).
"This is a golden opportunity for students to learn and develop themselves into young entrepreneurs," he said.
"The WMK program will encourage consistency in the quality of entrepreneurship learning, hopefully the younger generation can become pioneers in the advancement of entrepreneurship in Riau Province," continued Arden Simeru.
Unri Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Sri Indarti SE MSi, represented by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Alumni, Dr. Hermandra MA, in his remarks said that the WMK program not only prepares a generation that is ready to work, but is also ready to create jobs.
"We believe that through WMK, a synergy of research, innovation and entrepreneurship will be created in realizing young entrepreneurs who are innovative and adaptive to the development of the times," said Hermandra.
Hermandra further explained that the purpose of the WMK program is to form a young generation with ethical and sustainable entrepreneurial capacity, as well as to accelerate the birth of new innovations in the field of entrepreneurship.
The Independent Entrepreneurship Center Team of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Niry Queen Sary SE MSc, said that the WMK program is a forum that is open to all students, both academic and vocational, to develop themselves in the field of entrepreneurship.
"Through WMK, it will encourage students to be active in the process of developing their interest in entrepreneurship," he said.
Head of the Unri WMK Team, Julita Saidi SE MSi Ak CA, reported that the implementation phase has started in April 2024, followed by the recruitment and socialization phase in August 2024.
Furthermore, Julita Saidi explained that the national quota for the WMK program at Unri is 480 participants. However, with the high enthusiasm of students in the WMK program (562 applicants), the Unri WMK team submitted an additional quota to the central WMK and was approved for 513 quotas.
"Through the Independent Entrepreneurship program, it is hoped that future economic heroes will be born, a generation of tough entrepreneurs, who will bring glory to Indonesia," concluded Julita Saidi.
The participants of the WMK AKSI Pemuda Universitas Riau Batch III came from 17 universities in Indonesia, namely Unri, Indragiri Islamic University (Unisi), Muhammadiyah University of Riau (Umri), Riau College of Economics (STIE) Riau, STIE Bangkinang.
Next from Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai University, Batanghari Jambi University, Abdurrab University, Riau Islamic University (UIR), Samratulangi University, Surabaya State University (Unesa), North Sumatra University (USU), Prima Indonesia University, Manado State University, West Sumatra University, Medan Area University, and Murni Teguh University.
The activity was also enlivened by exhibition stands from Unri student entrepreneur teams, including the "Fish Go" Team with superior products of Seasoned Tilapia Fish (FPK); "Siaromela" with anti-mosquito aromatherapy candle products from used cooking oil waste (FKIP); "Kolega Belajar", Accounting Learning Services (FEB); "Pakisan" with Healthy Snack products made from ferns (FEB). (ms, photo: al)