The Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening vocational education in Indonesia by implementing an Internship Preparation, Character Development, and Financial Health Literacy Training Program for students at SMKN 1 Bintuni, West Papua. The program is part of FEB UGM’s community engagement initiatives. It strengthens collaboration among FEB UGM, the Teluk Bintuni Regency Government, and SMKN 1 Bintuni to prepare highly qualified human resources for the workforce.
The program is organized in collaboration among the Accounting Education Research Group, the Information Systems Research Group, the Department of Accounting, and the Research and Development for Societal Impact (RDSI) at FEB UGM. A total of 99 students will participate in the training, which will take place from July 2 to July 31, 2026.
The Principal of SMKN 1 Bintuni, Agus Budijanto, S.Pd., expressed his appreciation to FEB UGM for providing his students with the opportunity to participate in the training. He believes that the learning experience at FEB UGM will broaden the students’ perspectives while enhancing their competencies.
“We hope that the students of SMKN 1 Bintuni will make the most of this training at FEB UGM, gain new knowledge and insights, and be able to apply what they have learned when they return to their hometown,” he said.
Dr. Henry D. Kapuangan, S.Pd., M.M., Head of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports of Teluk Bintuni Regency, expressed a similar sentiment. He stated that the opportunity to study at FEB UGM is both an honor and a source of pride for the people of Teluk Bintuni. He also hopes that the collaboration will continue to expand as part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of vocational education in the region.
“The journey from Bintuni to Yogyakarta is not a short one. Therefore, I encourage all students to make the most of this valuable opportunity,” he said.
He further expressed his hope that the partnership would create broader opportunities for collaboration in human resource development, particularly in vocational education, enabling graduates to become more competitive and better prepared for the workforce. Through this training, he also hopes to nurture competent, professional future accountants.
“Through the Special Autonomy Fund, the local government strives to provide the best young talents of Teluk Bintuni with opportunities to gain valuable learning experiences such as this. We hope that some of you will continue your studies at UGM and become a generation capable of leading and developing your own region,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Department of Accounting at FEB UGM, Prof. Sony Warsono, MAFIS, Ak., CA., Ph.D., emphasized that the training reflects the faculty’s commitment to fulfilling the university’s tridharma, particularly through community engagement. By transferring knowledge and practical skills, FEB UGM seeks to make a meaningful contribution to strengthening the capacity of Indonesia’s younger generation across various regions. He also expressed his hope that the program would provide tangible benefits to all participants.
“It is an honor for us to continue this collaboration through this community engagement program, particularly in supporting vocational internship activities. The Department of Accounting at FEB UGM also offers various mentoring programs for vocational high schools to ensure that students are not only prepared to enter the workforce but also have opportunities to pursue higher education,” he explained.
The Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs of FEB UGM, Gumilang Aryo Sahadewo, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., noted that this year marks the third year of collaboration between FEB UGM and the Teluk Bintuni Regency Government. According to him, the increasing number of participants each year reflects the strong commitment of both institutions to advancing quality education.
He explained that FEB UGM continues to introduce educational innovations, including the Digital Accounting Education System (SIDEK), a digital learning platform designed to make accounting education more interactive and accessible. In addition to gaining knowledge in financial literacy and accounting, Gumilang encouraged the students to view their temporary stay in Yogyakarta as a valuable learning experience.
“Consider Yogyakarta as a laboratory of life. We hope that when you return to Teluk Bintuni, you will bring home not only new knowledge but also a stronger character, a greater passion for learning, and the readiness to become future leaders,” he said.
Throughout the training program, students of SMKN 1 Bintuni will receive lectures from FEB UGM faculty members on financial accounting and accounting digitalization, and hands-on training using the SIDEK-Edu and SIDEK-ERP applications developed by the Accounting Laboratory of FEB UGM.
Reporter: Shofi Hawa Anjani
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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