Unika Soegijapranata Mentors 104 MSMEs to 'Level Up' in Semarang

Universitas Katolik (Unika) Soegijapranata in Semarang has mentored at least 104 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across 30 urban villages in 11 districts to help them expand their market share and ‘level up’. Rector of Unika Soegijapranata Semarang, Ir. Robertus Setiawan Aji Nugroho, Ph.D, stated that the two-month mentorship was part of the university’s Thematic Community Service Programme (KKN), specifically the Entrepreneurial Community Service (KKU) and Synergistic Community Service (KKS).

Speaking at the opening of the KKU and KKS Expo, Talkshow, and Workshop, he said, ‘As part of the city of Semarang, we are also responsible for contributing to the community and its economy.’ Participating students mentored MSME actors in marketing strategies, particularly brand development through social media platforms and marketplaces, as well as improving product packaging. Students in the KKS programme also developed community empowerment initiatives at the neighbourhood and community unit levels.

‘We developed KKU/KKS in collaboration with the Semarang City Government, so students can mentor MSMEs, PKK (Family Welfare Programme) groups, and social communities within the community,’ he explained. A total of 810 students were deployed to mentor 104 MSMEs and PKK groups across 27 neighbourhood units and 5 community units, spread over 30 urban villages and 11 districts, as well as four schools in Semarang. Additionally, students from the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) participated in a thematic ‘Back to School’ KKN, mentoring several high schools and vocational schools in Semarang to strengthen their international branding through social media, curriculum adaptation, extracurricular development, and international cooperation.

‘Students do not just come to give, but also to learn from the community. They learn to understand the real challenges faced by their mentees, while honing their ability to adapt, collaborate, and find solutions in the field,’ he added. Semarang Deputy Mayor Iswar Aminuddin expressed appreciation for the students’ work, noting that some MSMEs had already experienced an increase in demand following the mentorship. ‘This shows that the community truly needs this kind of assistance. Going forward, mentorship should not be limited to marketing aspects but should also be expanded to business management and production capacity so that MSMEs can truly level up,’ he said. He also encouraged the expansion of cooperation between Unika Soegijapranata and the Semarang City Government, including the implementation of community service programmes in the city’s buffer zones to ensure more equitable development.