Medan, November 28–30, 2024 — The Master's Program in Management at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (MM USU) successfully organized the MM USU Expo & MSME Exhibition at the Universitas Sumatera Utara Student Center from 9:00 a.m. onwards. The event was held as a tangible contribution by the university to promote entrepreneurship and empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within the community.
The event was officially opened by the leadership of the Master's Program in Management, who emphasized in their opening remarks that the initiative reflects the university's commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset while providing concrete support for MSMEs to enhance their growth and competitiveness. The opening ceremony was followed by the MSME Talk, featuring distinguished speakers, including the Deputy Minister of MSMEs, the Rector of the Universitas Sumatera Utara, executives from PTPN Holding and Bank SUMUT, and the Head of the Master of Management Program, with sponsorship support from Bank SUMUT, Inalum, and Bank Indonesia.
In addition to the opening ceremony, the program continued with an entrepreneurship seminar featuring speakers from both academia and the business sector. The seminar covered a wide range of topics, including business development strategies, product innovation, digital marketing, and effective and sustainable business management in the era of globalization. Alongside the seminar, the event also hosted an MSME exhibition showcasing a diverse selection of products, including food and beverages, handicrafts, and other creative products. The exhibition provided MSME entrepreneurs with valuable opportunities to promote their products, expand their business networks, and establish connections with visitors and potential stakeholders.
The event also served as an experiential learning platform for students, allowing them to gain first-hand insights into business practices and enterprise management through direct interaction with MSME entrepreneurs. By fostering collaboration among academia, industry, government, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and the wider community, the MM USU Expo aimed to encourage entrepreneurship-driven economic growth while strengthening partnerships across multiple sectors.
The MM USU Expo & MSME Exhibition also aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By supporting MSME development through product exhibitions and entrepreneurship seminars, the event contributed to SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth by creating business opportunities, expanding commercial networks, and promoting inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship. The discussions on product innovation and digital marketing supported SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by encouraging MSMEs to adopt innovation and improve their competitiveness in the global market. Furthermore, the collaboration among academics, government agencies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and students reflected the principles of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, demonstrating the importance of cross-sector collaboration in achieving sustainable community economic empowerment.
Through the successful implementation of this event, the Master's Program in Management at the Universitas Sumatera Utara reaffirmed its commitment to supporting MSME empowerment and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while providing students with meaningful opportunities to learn directly from real-world business practices.