Mataram, University of Mataram- The Academic Service Unit (UPA) of Counseling & Career Development (BKPK) of the University of Mataram (Unram) held a preparation training for entering the world of work with the  theme “Building a Career that Empowers the Community” on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the Unram Dome building. This activity, which is the result of collaboration with PT Amartha Mikro Fintek, especially aimed at prospective graduates of Unram.

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The event was attended by Irpan Siswadi, S.Sos., M.Si., Head of Planning and Cooperation Bureau of Unram, who represented the Rector of Unram to open the activity; and Dwi Susanto, S.Kom., M.M., Head of Academic and Student Affairs Bureau. This training is a valuable opportunity for students who will soon enter the world of work.

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Careers that Focus on Community Empowerment

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One of the key points delivered in this training is about careers that focus on community empowerment. According to Rine, Chief People Officer of Amartha, this kind of career encourages individuals to be part of the solution to social problems, such as poverty, education, and economic inequality.

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“For example, working in the microfinance sector or community-based education allows individuals to help address social inequality by focusing on community empowerment. By supporting community programs such as clean water provision, assistance to UMKM, and education for children, these careers are able to bring positive impacts to the wider community,” Rine explained.

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More than that, community empowerment also plays a role in creating sustainable social change. Not only solving short-term problems, this career leads to long-term changes that can last in the future, for example through increasing the capacity of Human Resources (HR).

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Personal Capacity Building

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Community empowerment focuses not only on immediate assistance, but also on building the capacity of individuals to become more self-reliant. In this training, participants are encouraged to understand the importance of skills and resources to help communities become self-reliant and less dependent on external assistance.

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One concrete step that can be taken is through skills training and education, which focuses on improving individual skills. In addition, strengthening social networks through mentoring and networking will help communities build a more resilient foundation.

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Positive Impact on Local Economy

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Careers that focus on community empowerment also have a positive impact on the local economy. The training explained that supporting small and micro enterprises (UMKM) and providing access to finance to communities can boost economic growth. By strengthening UMKM through business education and providing access to finance, these careers help create new jobs and accelerate the circulation of the local economy.

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Furthermore, connecting local products to wider markets, both national and international, is one way to strengthen community economies. These steps will help communities to not only survive, but also thrive economically.

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Technology Inclusion for Empowerment

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The technology aspect is one of the key points in this training. Technology, especially in the financial sector such as fintech, can expand access to finance for people who are not served by traditional banks. Through technology, underserved communities can get important financial services, such as microloans.

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In addition, digital platforms also open up new opportunities for online skills training. This provides greater access to education, so that people from all backgrounds can more easily acquire the necessary knowledge and skills.

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With technology driving local innovation, communities can also find new solutions to problems they face, such as the use of irrigation technology to increase agricultural yields in rural areas.

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This career preparation training provides a comprehensive view for prospective Unram graduates on how to build a career that is not only professionally successful, but also has an impact on society. The activity continued with a walk-in interview with HRD of PT Amartha, which provided an opportunity for participants to interact directly with practitioners in the field.

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With this training, Unram and PT. Amartha Mikro Fintek hope that graduates will be ready to face the challenges of the world of work and be able to contribute positively to the wider community.