Generating Entrepreneurship Mentality Through the Entrepreneurship Expo

UPJ conducted Entrepreneurship Expo for two consecutive days through 28 - 29 december 2015

UPJ conducted Entrepreneurship Expo for two (2) consecutive days through 28th to 29th December, 2015. An Entrepreneurship Expo is a series of entrepreneurship subjects which has been taken by the students for one semester. According to Mr. Teguh Prasetio, SE., M.Sc., The Head of the Management Study Program and  Coordinator of entrepreneurship subjects of UPJ, and the students would be equipped with entrepreneurship mindset  in  the entrepreneurial class  as entrepreneurs although  it is deemed insufficient.  Therefore, it is necessary to have some facilities which can be used by students who take entrepreneurship subjects, so that they will experience and feel the actual business practices in which are being trained.

 This event was opened by the Rector of UPJ, Mrs. Leenawaty Limantara, Ph.D., where she in her speech told students that "as perspective entrepreneurs there are four important things that they have to possess, namely: mindset, knowledge, skills and attitude". During the implementation of Entrepreneurship Expo of Pembangunan Jaya University in 2015, there appeared a variety of creative and innovative products of the students who made up 28 booths, either in the forms of food and drink, clothing, accessories, up to services. Among the innovative services that exhibited by students was Cat Hotel (that is, day care and cat play facilities) and tour services to mythical objects.

The courage to choose unusual business activities becomes one form of creative and innovative mentality which is needed to become successful entrepreneurs. An Entrepreneurship Expo provides the widest possible space for students to realize their business ideas in real situations.

Colleges or universities are required to play their active roles in reducing unemployment by producing skillful and well trained graduates to create job opportunities.  According to the data from the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Unemployment Rate of population aged 15 years old and over in February 2015 increased (5.81%) compared to that in February 2014 (5.70%).

The choice to become an entrepreneur can be one effective solution to overcome the problem of unemployment. On the other hand, very often such choice is not the first choice of students when they have completed higher education. To be entrepreneurs will only be chosen when options to be employees are closed.

This condition cannot be separated from the limitation possessed by college graduates in looking forwards career opportunities not as employees. Besides, college or university graduates are sometimes reluctant to face or take a risk which is very likely to be encountered in the pioneering business activities independently.

In order to change such perspective or mindset, it is necessary to instill the proper mindset in students that working independently or becoming entrepreneurs is not something that must be addressed with great fear and anxiety. Any kind of risk exists wherever we are (either as entrepreneurs or as employees).  All we need to is to prepare ourselves to be able to manage the risks that may arise. Therefore, through these activities, it is expected that entrepreneurial spirit may continue to appear and strengthen in the minds of UPJ’s students.