Seven students of Universitas Gadjah Mada have earned the chance to participate in the NUS Enterprise Summer Program on Entrepreneurship for two weeks in Singapore this July. They are Sebastian Alex Dharmawangsa, Nogati Chairunnisa, Aa Nanda N. Megatus, Sulaiman Gumilang, M. Wyndham H. Permana, Dave Rinatza Zain, and Dimas D. Andini Friasari. These students were participants of Innovative Academy (IA) who received a scholarship for this program from Temasek Foundation International – National University of Singapore STEP Entrepreneurship Initiative 2018 Scholarship.
Sebastian Alex Dharmawangsa expressed his joy and pride in winning the scholarship for the NUS Enterprise program to support his own startup development. “This program offers a unique opportunity for us to study and find inspiration in entrepreneurship development,” he said.
In the NUS Enterprise Summer Program, the seven UGM students will be joining other 40-60 students from various countries in the learning process, business practice, and entrepreneurship development in Singapore.
Director of Business Development and Incubation at UGM, Dr. Hargo Utomo, during his briefing, said the students are ambassadors of UGM in startup business development sector so they are expected to exchange experiences with fellow startup actors from other countries. “All of you are ambassadors in startup business for both UGM and Indonesia”.
Hargo also advised the students to make good use of this program to gain experiences and eventually attract investment for their early-stage startups. It is because the students will meet various venture capital holding companies. “At least you will get ideas and information, for instance, on technology and policy. If you find an investor, bring it to Indonesia.”
According to Hargo, development of entrepreneurship education in Singapore is similar to the Innovative Academy program at UGM. Generally, startup business actors in Singapore prioritize technological mastery, but they have less social sensitivity and mastery of demographic maps. “They are focusing more on technical aspects such as coding rather than social aspects. I believe they have less sensitivity in national interest and demography compared to us.”
Aside from gaining knowledge and insight, Hargo hoped that the Innovative Academy team could represent the figure of millennial generation in Indonesia with socio-entrepreneurial spirit in utilizing technological advancement to solve the nation’s problems through digital solutions.