Can Used Cooking Oil Be Profitable? UNM Margonda Students Secure National PKM Funding with ECOCANDLE
University of Nusa Mandiri (UNM), a Digital Business Campus, has once again achieved national recognition through the 2026 Student Creativity Programme in Entrepreneurship (PKM-K). A student team from UNM Margonda Campus secured national funding with their ECOCANDLE innovation: the development and commercialisation of aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil based on circular economy principles.
The innovative team is led by Nabila Putri Aulia from the Digital Business Study Programme, alongside Athirah Arumi from Information Systems, and Aliyah Dwi Puspita and Nurrohmah Wati from Digital Business. Several team members are high-achieving students receiving UNM’s Special Admission Scholarship.
The ECOCANDLE innovation stems from students’ concern over household waste, particularly used cooking oil, which is often seen as worthless and a potential environmental pollutant. Through this creative idea, used cooking oil is transformed into high-value aromatherapy candles while promoting environmental awareness.
Team leader Nabila Putri Aulia stated that ECOCANDLE was developed not just as a business product but also as a contribution to environmental sustainability issues.
‘We aim to create products that not only have market value but also deliver positive environmental impact. Through ECOCANDLE, we are trying to turn used cooking oil waste into more beneficial creative products,’ said Nabila.
This success demonstrates that UNM Margonda’s Digital Business Study Programme continues to encourage students to not only understand business theory but also to innovate, identify market opportunities, develop business strategies, and create products relevant to community needs.
UNM Margonda Campus Head Andry Maulana expressed his appreciation for the students’ achievement. He stated that the ECOCANDLE team’s success highlights the campus environment’s crucial role in shaping creative, adaptable students ready for digital business challenges.
‘We are very proud of our students who have secured PKM-K funding through the ECOCANDLE innovation. This proves that UNM Margonda students have the courage to identify local problems and turn them into valuable business opportunities,’ said Andry in a release received on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
He added that the involvement of Special Admission Scholarship recipients also serves as inspiration for prospective students, showing that UNM’s scholarship programme is not just about easing tuition costs but also providing opportunities for growth and achievement.
‘The Special Admission Scholarship is not merely about financial assistance; it is also about fostering growth in a campus environment that supports excellence. We want students to develop their best potential from the start of their studies,’ Andry said.
Through initiatives like PKM-K, students gain hands-on experience in developing business concepts, conducting product research, building teamwork, and designing commercialisation strategies.
This experience is vital for Digital Business students to be better prepared for the workforce or future entrepreneurship.
For current senior high school, vocational school, and Islamic senior high school graduates, this achievement demonstrates that studying at UNM Margonda Campus extends beyond classroom learning, offering opportunities to create, compete, and develop personal potential.
New student registration information for the University of Nusa Mandiri can be accessed via pmb.nusamandiri.ac.id or the MyNusa PMB app.