Graduating with Work Experience? FEB UNM's Strategy to Produce Industry-Ready Talent

The current competition in the job market, amidst the digital transformation era, no longer solely demands graduates with high academic grades. Companies now prioritise talent with professional experience, adaptability, and competencies aligned with industry needs. Responding to this challenge, Nusa Mandiri University (UNM), as a Digital Business Campus, has introduced a learning system that integrates academic education with real work experience through the Internship Experience Program (IEP) 3+1. The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNM, which carries the vision of becoming an excellent, independent, and innovative faculty based on digital business, is committed to producing graduates who are ready to enter the workforce or start a business while still studying. This commitment is realised through the Management Study Programme and the Digital Business Study Programme, supported by an adaptive curriculum, project-based learning, collaboration with industry practitioners, and the use of digital technology in the learning process. The IEP 3+1 scheme involves three years of study on campus followed by one year of professional internship at partner companies or institutions. This programme allows students to gain professional work experience before graduating, making them better prepared for the professional world. During the programme, students not only deepen their theoretical knowledge in the classroom but also learn to solve real problems, work in teams, build professional communication, understand work culture, and expand their networks within the business and industrial sectors. Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business UNM, Dr Ida Zuniarti, stated that the industrial world currently needs graduates who can provide solutions, not just master theory. Through the Internship Experience Program (IEP) 3+1, students gain professional experience that serves as essential preparation for entering the workforce. She added that learning at FEB UNM is designed to build a balance between hard skills and soft skills, ensuring students have strong competitiveness amidst rapid changes in the business world. The faculty continues to strengthen collaboration with the business and industrial sectors so that students gain learning experiences relevant to market needs. Consequently, graduates leave not only with a diploma but also with a portfolio, professional experience, and the confidence to work or become entrepreneurs in the digital era. The Management Study Programme equips students with competencies in business management, marketing, finance, human resources, entrepreneurship, and data-based decision making. Meanwhile, the Digital Business Study Programme prepares students to develop technology-based business strategies through mastery of digital marketing, e-commerce, business analytics, digital entrepreneurship, and business innovation. Beyond academic competencies, students are encouraged to actively participate in organisations, competitions, certifications, research, and various self-development programmes to hone leadership, communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking skills. As a Digital Business Campus, UNM continues to strengthen synergy with the industry through collaborative programmes to ensure its graduates can meet the dynamic needs of the job market. Through the Management and Digital Business study programmes, FEB UNM demonstrates that graduate success is measured not only by an academic title but also by their readiness to work, innovate, and build a career from the first day they enter the professional world, creating a generation ready to work, lead, and seize opportunities in the digital economy.