Agribusiness Department Hosts DBWA and AEC, Providing IPB University Students with MBKM Experience

The Agribusiness Department of the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) at IPB University recently organized the Desa Berderap Wirausaha Agribisnis (DBWA) and Agribusiness Employee Challenges (AEC) activities. These events took place in Pangalengan Subdistrict, Bandung Regency, and Blora Regency.

DBWA and AEC are part of the Merdeka Campus Competition Program (PKKM) implemented by the Agribusiness Department at IPB University. As part of the Freedom of Learning – Independence Campus (MBKM) initiative, these programs engage Agribusiness students in directly addressing community issues, particularly those related to optimizing business capabilities in the agricultural sector.

A variety of activities were conducted, focusing on providing knowledge and insights to the community. These included Practitioner Teaching, Mini-curriculum Workshops, and Entrepreneurial Upskilling sessions.

IPB University had the opportunity to collaborate with the Blora Regency Government, Pangalengan Subdistrict, and several agribusiness industries. Additionally, the program partnered with several universities, including Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) Tasikmalaya, Binus University, Parahyangan University, and the School of Business and Management (SBM) at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

“This collaboration is part of our efforts to enhance partnership development and digital entrepreneurship skills,” said Dr Burhanuddin, Chairman of the Agribusiness Department at IPB University.

In addition to benefiting the surrounding communities, Dr Burhanuddin noted that the DBWA and AEC programs are also designed to enhance students’ capacity to face the workforce. This is reflected in the internship activities carried out in various industries, which are expected to provide valuable experience for the students.

Anis Fitriyani, an IPB University student who participated in the DBWA program, shared her testimony. She mentioned that the DBWA activity offered her invaluable experience, especially in community engagement and recognizing the potential of rural areas.

“I learned to directly engage with the village community, discuss with them, and identify the potential within the village that can be developed into a business to boost the village’s economy,” said Anis Fitriyani, one of the DBWA participants.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Wafii Hibatullah, a participant in the AEC program at PT Sungai Budi Group, expressed the benefits and valuable experience he gained. “I am happy and grateful to have participated in the AEC program. We students could directly apply the knowledge we have gained in lectures to the industrial world.”

The DBWA and AEC activities also received positive feedback from the Regent of Blora, Arief Rohman. He hopes that similar activities will continue to be conducted and even spread throughout the Blora Regency. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)