UNU Jogja Strengthens Yogyakarta’s MSMEs Through Cross-Faculty Mentoring in Business Incubation Program with NU Care-LAZISNU DIY

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), through its Directorate of Community Empowerment and Social Laboratory (Labsos), is collaborating with NU Care-LAZISNU Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) to mentor micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) receiving business capital assistance through a Business Incubation Program. Under this initiative, UNU Jogja lecturers provide guidance on business model development, financial management, digital marketing, and business legality.

Director of Community Empowerment and Social Laboratory (Labsos) at UNU Jogja, Joko Susilo, said that the involvement of lecturers in the program reflects the university's commitment to implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in community engagement, while integrating the activities into UNU Jogja's Social Laboratory (Living Labs).

"UNU Jogja wants to ensure that MSME owners not only receive additional business capital but also gain the knowledge, skills, and mentoring necessary to develop sustainable and independent businesses. Therefore, we involve lecturers from various disciplines to provide assistance tailored to the specific needs of each entrepreneur," he said.

Cross-Faculty Mentorship Strengthens MSME Capacity

The program engages lecturers from the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Halal Industry, and Faculty of Islamic Studies, each contributing expertise according to their respective fields.

Ahmad Hujaj Nurrohim from the Faculty of Islamic Studies delivered a session on Islamic Business and Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah (Aswaja) principles as the foundation for building ethical and sustainable businesses.

"A business incubation program should not focus solely on strengthening management and marketing. MSME entrepreneurs also need a strong ethical foundation so that every business decision aligns with Sharia principles, honesty, and social responsibility. In this way, businesses can grow not only to become more competitive but also to create meaningful benefits for society," said Ahmad Hujaj Nurrohim.

Meanwhile, Faculty of Economics lecturers Novi Diah Wulandari and Nurna Pratiwi guided participants in developing a Business Model Canvas (BMC) to help them design more structured and strategic business models.

In financial management, Faculty of Economics lecturers Gigih Aulia Hilmiawan and Zulfatun Ruscitasari trained participants in basic bookkeeping, cost of goods sold (COGS) calculation, cash flow management, and separating personal and business finances. On production and quality control, Faculty of Halal Industry lecturers Subekti Hartiningsih and Sukamto provided guidance to help MSMEs produce goods that meet quality standards.

Additionally, Nurul Salehawati from the Faculty of Halal Industry assisted participants with obtaining a Business Identification Number (NIB), halal certification, and access to financing opportunities such as the People's Business Credit (KUR) program and potential investors. Faculty of Information Technology lecturers Restiadi Bayu Taruno and Anik Puji Handayani delivered training on branding and digital marketing, including product photography, social media management, and optimizing TikTok Shop and online marketplaces.

University–Philanthropy Collaboration Promotes MSME Independence

The Business Incubation Program is a collaborative initiative between UNU Jogja and NU Care-LAZISNU DIY to strengthen community economic empowerment through sustainable business mentoring.

Chairperson of NU Care-LAZISNU DIY, Dinik Putri Rahajeng Pangestuti, said the program represents a transformation in zakat management, shifting its focus from merely distributing financial assistance to creating long-term economic independence for beneficiaries (mustahik).

"We want zakat to become an instrument of empowerment that enables beneficiaries to achieve economic independence. Mentors therefore play a crucial role in ensuring that every supported business continues to grow sustainably and ultimately improves the welfare of beneficiary families. Collaboration with universities, business practitioners, and various stakeholders is essential to maximizing the program's impact," she said.

She added that the business incubation initiative reflects NU Care-LAZISNU DIY's commitment to strengthening the capacity of MSMEs through mentoring, skills development, and improved business management.

Through this partnership, UNU Jogja hopes to further strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and philanthropic organizations such as NU Care-LAZISNU DIY, enabling more MSMEs to benefit from mentoring grounded in academic knowledge and practical experience.

"We hope this program will produce MSME entrepreneurs who are more adaptive, innovative, and competitive. In this way, universities serve not only as centers of knowledge creation but also as institutions that provide tangible solutions for community economic empowerment," Joko concluded. [Latifah]