Written by Elisabeth Sirumapea

Indonesian students are currently required to have the ability to solve various problems. This situation can be seen from the global skills index in “The world’s top trending skills in Business Technology, and Data Science benchmarked across 60 countries and 10 industries” by cousera.org. The competencies that must be possessed by the post-millennial generation can be improved through competitions that will train students to solve problems, think critically, innovate, analyze problems comprehensively and master the art of communicating.  

Related to this, Kemenristekdikti together with the School of Business and Management of the Bandung Institute of Technology (SBM ITB) successfully carried out the National Student Competition in Business, Management and Finance (KBMK), on September 13-14, 2019 at the SBM ITB Building, Jalan Ganesha no. 10, Bandung. The theme of this activity was “Encouraging the Progress of Ecosystems of the Business World with Innovations in Business, Management and Finance that Strengthens the Identity of the Homeland and Utilizes Technology for the Welfare of the Nation”. The competition is an effort of the learning process that brings universities closer to industrial research, government, and professional associations.

“We represent the host to express our deepest gratitude to Kemenristekdikti which has trusted us to be the host for the first KBMK competition in Indonesia, which will be a pioneer for the next KBMK activities. We are grateful to to contribute to adding to the treasury, especially in the humanities field, “said Dr.Eng. Sandro Mihradi as Director of the ITB Student Institution at the event.

The KBMK category is divided into 4 parts, including: 1) competition in the field of business planning with aspects of technology utilization, 2) case analysis competition in marketing, 3) competition in investment research, and 4) financial competition in investigative audit. Each group was evaluated by 3 judges consisting of academics, practitioners, representatives of professional associations and representatives from the government.

The KBMK was attended by 247 groups from universities in Indonesia, both state and private universities. From the 247 groups, 42 groups selected successfully passed the national selection stage, and 20 finalists from 4 competition categories 

“I am sure that from this championship, good ideas will emerge that can provide good benefits for our community,” said Didin Wahidin as Director of Student Affairs of the Ministry of Research and Technology who also attended the event to open and close the 2019 KBMK.

The participants of the competition actively and innovatively have their own ways of solving the problems given by the jury. This can be seen from the various participants’ answers. 

For the marketing sector, there are 4 national-level finalists, ITB as the first rank, UPI as the second rank, IPB as the third rank, and UNIBI as the fourth rank. For investigative audits, there are 4 national-level finalists, PPM School of Management as the first rank, UI as the second rank, UNIMED as the third rank, and STIE PGRI DEWANTARA as the fourth rank. For technology utilization, there are 4 national level finalists namely UGM as the first rank, IPB as the second rank, UNTAR as the third rank, and ITB as the fourth rank. In investment research, there are 4 national-level finalists, UI as the first rank, UNBRAW as the second rank, IPB as the third rank and ATMAJAYA as the fourth rank.

Sonny Rustiadi as chairman of the 2019 KBMK committee said that this competition is expected to increase the capabilities and competitiveness of Indonesian students, particularly in terms of the competencies needed in the business world today and in the future. 

“Hopefully, all participants can use this opportunity to compete and build relationships with other fellow participants and provide good benefits to the nation and state,” he added.