UNU Jogja and BTPN Syariah Explore Community Empowerment Collaboration in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) and BTPN Syariah are exploring joint programs and a pilot project to strengthen community empowerment through research and product innovation, appropriate technology development, business digitalization, marketing assistance, expanded market access, and community social and health services. The initiative was discussed during the Impactful Innovation and Community Empowerment Workshop, which brought together representatives of UNU Jogja and BTPN Syariah on Monday (10/8).

Representing UNU Jogja were Vice Rector for Education, Research, and Community Engagement Dr. Suhadi; Director of Community Engagement and Social Laboratory (Labsos) Joko Susilo, S.IP., CMT.; Director of Research and Publications Irwan Novianto, S.T., M.Eng.; Director of Philanthropic Partnerships Nissa Lilia Azhari, M.Sc.; Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology Dr. Eng. Mochamad Syamsiro; and Dean of the Faculty of Economics Dr. Ir. Suhada, S.T., M.B.A., IPU. Also attending were several heads of study programs and lecturers from Informatics, Management, Pharmacy, Food Technology, Agribusiness, and Electrical Engineering, as well as Head of the Halal Center Dr. Fahmaninda Listiyani, B.Ecs. (Hons), MPE. BTPN Syariah was represented by Daya Activation & Partnership Head Vini Daru Perdana, S.E., MBA., Daya Partnership Leader Elda Sofiana, and Ahmad Fadhillah from Daya Activation & Partnership.

During the workshop, UNU Jogja presented several community empowerment opportunities that could be developed through cross-disciplinary collaboration. One of them is the development of Kiringan Herbal Tourism Village in Bantul, coordinated by the Head of the Agribusiness Study Program at UNU Jogja, Nur Saudah Al Arifah, S.T.P., M.Sc.

Nur Saudah presented the development of herbal medicine business groups, product innovation, optimization of production facilities, and the development of educational tourism. Products that have been developed include wedang jeruk, a turmeric and lime-based herbal drink, and instant herbal ice cream made from temulawak (Java turmeric).

The development of Kiringan is also being directed toward educational tourism through a greenhouse featuring family medicinal plants. However, Nur Saudah said the initiative still requires improvements in production facilities, quality standardization, promotion, and market access to enable local businesses to expand their potential.

From the field of Pharmacy, the development of Kiringan Herbal Tourism Village is also supported through nutritional and active-compound analysis of herbal products developed by the community. Head of the Pharmacy Study Program at UNU Jogja, apt. Muhammad Alfian, M.Farm., said the program contributes by analyzing the content and activity levels of herbal products as part of efforts to improve product quality.

According to Alfian, the analysis results can subsequently be developed into research materials and scientific publications. Thus, the Pharmacy Study Program’s involvement not only supports product development in terms of quality and safety but also creates opportunities to advance community-based herbal products through academic research.

Another potential initiative was presented by the Head of the Food Technology Study Program at UNU Jogja, Subekti Hartiningsih, S.T.P., M.Sc. She presented food-processing innovations developed with community business groups in Kulonprogo, including low-purine emping melinjo, vacuum-packed cassava products, and briquettes made from melinjo waste.

According to Subekti, the business groups continue to face several challenges, particularly in marketing, product standardization, production equipment, and market expansion. This demonstrates that community product development cannot stop at product innovation alone but also requires support to ensure that products meet relevant standards and reach a wider range of consumers.

These opportunities received a positive response from BTPN Syariah. Daya Activation & Partnership Head of BTPN Syariah, Vini Daru Perdana, S.E., MBA., said community business development needs to be accompanied by access to knowledge, financing, essential business resources, and markets.

According to Vini, BTPN Syariah has a community of women micro-entrepreneurs spread across various regions. This creates an opportunity to connect business communities with the resources and expertise available at UNU Jogja.

“Once products have been developed, we need to think about their market access. We hope this program can help determine how these products can be marketed and continue to grow,” Vini said.

One of the needs that could be addressed through the collaboration, Vini added, is an application that connects business owners with the market. The application could help entrepreneurs introduce their products while providing consumers with access to products developed by community business groups.

This need was met with a response from UNU Jogja through stronger marketing and technology support. Dean of the Faculty of Economics at UNU Jogja, Dr. Ir. Suhada, S.T., M.B.A., IPU., said the faculty has a student community engaged in marketing education. The community could be involved in helping business owners strengthen their marketing capabilities, including the use of digital channels.

Meanwhile, from a technology perspective, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at UNU Jogja, Dr. Eng. Mochamad Syamsiro, identified an opportunity to develop a simple application connecting business communities with consumers. The platform could provide product information while also supporting the ordering process.

Marketing and technology development will subsequently be integrated with direct field assistance through the Social Laboratory (Labsos) under the community development scheme, involving students and lecturer-led community engagement research. Director of Community Engagement and Labsos at UNU Jogja, Joko Susilo, S.IP., CMT., said lecturers and students would be involved according to thematic issue clusters and cross-disciplinary collaboration among study programs.

Starting in September 2026, seventh-semester students from various study programs at UNU Jogja will carry out Social Laboratory activities to initiate impactful programs with communities. Before being deployed to various locations, the students will receive competency development through a bootcamp. They will support the mentoring process for business actors who are shohibul Labsos of UNU Jogja and beneficiaries supported by BTPN Syariah.

According to Joko, the involvement of lecturers and students will be coordinated with the respective study programs so that assistance can be aligned with academic competencies as well as community needs. Through this approach, the program is expected not only to benefit business actors but also to provide students with a learning environment through direct experience in the community.

In closing, UNU Jogja Vice Rector for Research and Community Engagement, Dr. Suhadi, said the potential collaboration between UNU Jogja and BTPN Syariah could be expanded by involving other parties, including philanthropic institutions. He said BAZNAS, as well as productive waqf and zakat institutions, could be involved to broaden and strengthen support for community empowerment programs.

“I see opportunities for collaboration between UNU Jogja and BTPN Syariah to open up partnerships with other parties. Philanthropic institutions such as BAZNAS, as well as productive waqf and zakat institutions, could be involved to expand and strengthen community empowerment programs,” he said.

The initiative will subsequently be followed up through programs involving lecturers, students, and business communities. Digitalization, product innovation, marketing, research, and stronger market access are among the areas that UNU Jogja and BTPN Syariah will jointly develop. [Latifah]