UMP Rector Supports Business Creation as Student Graduation Requirement
The Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (UMP), Prof Dr Jebul Suroso, has expressed his support for a proposal by the Chairman of the National Creative Economy Movement (Gekrafs), Kawendra Lukistian. The proposal encourages making business creation and job generation an indicator of student graduation.
Kawendra proposed that higher education institutions adopt the number of graduates who own businesses as a key performance indicator (KPI) for universities, particularly in the creative economy sector.
“For example, a campus KPI at UMP could be whether its students can have their own businesses after graduating, especially in the creative economy sector. We will challenge them to write their thesis whilst opening a business, and that becomes the KPI for graduating from that university,” said Kawendra on Tuesday (17/2/2026).
The remarks were made during a discussion entitled “Creative Hub, MSMEs and Digitalisation: Pillars of the Modern Creative Economy Ecosystem” held at Samara Cafe & Eatery, Purwokerto, on Monday (16/2).
He emphasised that universities should not merely function as places for formal education, but also as practical spaces capable of producing young entrepreneurs.
“We want universities to encourage the birth of entrepreneurs. There could be a Gekrafs chapter at UMP specifically on campus,” he said.
In response, UMP Rector Prof Jebul Suroso said the university was aligned with the idea and had in fact already implemented a curriculum based on job creation through its smart curriculum programme.
“We agree with Kawendra’s idea. Universities must become places that produce job creators, not just jobseekers. That is why UMP has prepared a curriculum that encourages students to build businesses whilst still studying,” he said.
He cited the example of the kopyor coconut downstream processing programme, which has produced various economically valuable derivative products, including processed chocolate products, as part of the implementation of an impact-driven curriculum.
Additionally, UMP runs a “professors with impact” programme in which academics are directly involved in community development, including in the English Village educational tourism area in Banyumas.
During the same occasion, Kawendra also highlighted the significant potential of Banyumas and Purwokerto in the creative economy sector based on intellectual wealth.
“When we talk about the creative economy, Purwokerto has already become an intellectual territory that can be optimised. This is value that can become intellectual property and be utilised by the community,” he explained.
He added that strengthening collaboration between universities and creative communities is key to creating a sustainable creative economy ecosystem that delivers real social impact.
The discussion is expected to serve as a strategic step in driving the transformation of higher education institutions into centres for producing young entrepreneurs, whilst strengthening the role of universities in creating jobs and improving community welfare.