In a groundbreaking move, the Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has officially unfurled the banner of Agribusiness Entrepreneurial Marketing (AEM) as a specialized focus within the Doctor of Agricultural Science program.
The grand announcement unfolded amid the inauguration ceremony of The 18th Markplus Conference 2024 on Dec. 7, 2023, held at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Pacific Place Jakarta.
The luminaries presiding over this momentous occasion included the esteemed Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia; the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Jaka Widada; and the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Dyah Weny Respatie.
Notable representatives from MarkPlus, including Jacky Mussry, Deputy CEO of MarkPlus Inc., and Ardhi Ridwansyah, Chief Operating Officer of MarkPlus Institute, added their presence to the ceremony.
Dr. Respatie shed light on the genesis of this academic milestone, emphasizing the symbiotic collaboration between MarkPlus and the Faculty of Agriculture. Following international standards of excellence, the AEM specialization is set to welcome students in the upcoming odd semester.
“This new specialization in the doctoral program is the outcome of the collaboration between the faculty and MarkPlus. The curriculum will be a joint development in the future,” she shared at the Faculty of Agriculture on Tuesday (Jan. 2).
She delineated that the academic nuances of the program will be the forte of the Faculty of Agriculture, while MarkPlus, renowned for its prowess in marketing, will play a pivotal role. MarkPlus will also contribute to practitioner lecturers who bring real-world insights directly into the classroom.
Ardhy Ridwansyah expounded on the unique facet of the AEM specialization, highlighting that it would confer graduates with the distinguished title of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), marking a pioneering stride as the first DBA program in Indonesia.
The MarkPlus Institute lends its unreserved support to this groundbreaking initiative, aspiring to nurture top-tier human resources poised to contribute substantially to agriculture, particularly agribusiness.
“The inception of this collaboration leading to the DBA was a lengthy process, and the Faculty of Agriculture swiftly responded to this initiative. We pledge full support and look forward to collaborating with the faculty and contributing professional instructors in the marketing field,” Ridwansyah elucidated.
Deputy Chairman of MarkPlus Corp, Taufik, underscored the AEM program’s role in reshaping perceptions about the agriculture sector. By presenting Agribusiness Entrepreneurial Marketing, it aims to shift public perception, rendering agriculture an alluring sector.
This, in turn, is envisioned to ignite the creative spark among entrepreneurs, propelling the growth of agriculture in Indonesia.
“We must not cede ground to other nations, given our status as an agrarian country; hence, we must reinforce it,” emphasized Taufik.
Adding a global perspective, Taufik expressed that the launch of the AEM specialization aligns with MarkPlus’ commitment to supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rather than focusing on a singular goal, MarkPlus orchestrates events that collectively contribute to all seventeen SDG goals.
The UGM Faculty of Agriculture, through its active participation in the MarkPlus Conference, reiterates its dedication to SDGs, with a prominent emphasis on goal number 4, Quality Education.
Author: Hanita Athasari Zain
Editor: Agung Nugroho
Photo: UGM Faculty of Agriculture