Create Jobs, Ministry Of Industry Bina 10,469 Santripreneur Since 2013

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) said that it has fostered 10,469 students from 101 Islamic boarding schools spread throughout Indonesia through the Santripreneur program, since 2013. This aims to grow industry players or new entrepreneurs (WUB) within the Islamic boarding school.

"I strongly support the role of the students in creating the independence of Islamic boarding schools and economic empowerment of the surrounding community," said Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in a written statement, Saturday, December 2.

Minister of Industry Agus said that Islamic boarding schools have been a large opportunity ecosystem in an effort to grow WUB players by utilizing their resources. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry then initiated and implemented the Santripreneur program.

Agus added that efforts to increase the number of WUB perpetrators are believed to encourage the creation and expansion of employment opportunities.

"However, this strategic step needs to involve collaboration between stakeholders in order to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students and the younger generation," he said.

As for Thursday, November 30, 2023, the Directorate General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries (IKMA) held a ceremonial peak event for the 2023 Santripreneur program which was held in a hybrid manner at the Darussyifa Al Fitroh Islamic Boarding School, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. This activity carries the theme "Santri Berindustri Jayakan Negeri".

The Director General of IKMA at the Ministry of Industry, Reni Yanita, explained that based on data from the Ministry of Religion until the second semester of 2023, the number of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia is estimated to reach 39,167 units spread across all provinces with a total of 4.85 million students.

The West Java region is the province with the highest number of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, totaling 12,121 Islamic boarding schools. Furthermore, followed by East Java Province with a total of 6,745 Islamic boarding schools and Central Java with 5,084 Islamic boarding schools.

"With the large number of Islamic boarding schools and students, Islamic boarding schools have the strategic potential to support national economic development and play a strategic role in supporting the growth of the manufacturing industry in Indonesia," he said.

Reni assessed that the Santripreneur program has a vocational or entrepreneurial curriculum, with its types of activities, including production technical guidance, machining/equipment facilitation, as well as entrepreneurial and digital marketing materials provided in accordance with the potential and needs of each boarding school.

Through this Santripreneur program, Islamic boarding schools can contribute more to regional and national economic development.

"I also encourage students who are joining the Santripreneur program to become millennial students, namely students who are able to produce well and master the development of digital technology in running their industrial business units, or what I want to call Santri Millennial 4.0," he said.

It is known that the Santripreneur program in 2023 will be held in six Islamic boarding schools, namely Darussyifa Al-Fitroh Islamic Boarding School in Sukabumi Regency, Al Qodiriyah Islamic Boarding School in Magelang Regency, and Al Muwazanah Islamic Boarding School in Kediri Regency.

Then, Darul Huda Islamic Boarding School in Blitar Regency, Bustanul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Bondowoso Regency, and Nurul Jadid Islamic Boarding School in Situbondo Regency.

The facilitation that has been given to the six Islamic boarding schools is in addition to the technical guidance of new entrepreneurs, as well as facilitating machinery/production equipment.