Minister Teten Wants The University Of Cooperatives To Develop Cooperative Business Models, This Is The Goal

Coordinating Minister for SMEs Teten Masduki (Photo: Doc. Kemenkop UKM)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki hopes that the University of Indonesian Cooperatives (IKOPIN University) can play a more role in developing cooperatives in Indonesia in the form of business models that can be implemented in the country.

"We hope that IKOPIN can also prepare human resources, including human resources as cooperative supervisors. IKOPIN can also prepare studies, especially in food sector cooperatives. IKOPIN I ask to focus on strengthening its food cooperatives," said Minister Teten in a written statement received by VOI, Friday, August 11.

In his direction, Teten explained, Indonesia is predicted to become a developed country with a per capita income that will grow to a minimum of US$ 12,000 from the previous US$4,500.

"In this case, the world of education is not just creating graduates who become job seekers, but graduates who are able to create jobs. We have around 3.5 million formal education graduates who enter the work market per year, of which 1.7 million are undergraduates," he said.

However, with an economic growth of only 5 percent, it is only able to absorb as many as 2 million people. This means that there are around 1.5 million unemployed. About 97 percent of employment is absorbed in the micro-business segment in the informal sector. Therefore, his party was asked by the president to immediately downstream other than minerals.

Teten admitted that he had traveled to various campuses to collaborate in printing 1 million new entrepreneurs.

"I see that cooperatives must have a business model. Therefore, I ask IKOPIN to be able to make studies on the development of cooperatives in the world, which can later be implemented in Indonesia," he said.

Meanwhile, IKOPIN Chancellor Agus Pakpahan said that the development of IKOPIN University after being designated as a university in early 2022, and also reporting IKOPIN plans in the future.

"We want to exchange ideas, we also listen to the direction of the minister (Teten) combined with what IKOPIN has planned. This means that we have a lot of homework to do at IKOPIN to realize what the minister hopes for," he said.

Agus explained that the homework in question relates to the financing system, downstreaming, then there are also related to the new systems needed.

The implication, he continued, is that IKOPIN will prepare important things to accelerate the process of achieving what has become the policy of the Minister of Teten and be adjusted to what has been thought in IKOPIN.

"This is a great opportunity for cooperatives to take part and provide the greatest benefits for their members. The presence of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs together with IKOPIN University is highly expected to ensure that the purpose of establishing cooperatives in improving the welfare of its members can be realized properly," he added.