Elevating the Business Unit Level of Public Service Agencies Towards Creativity, Accountability, and Sustainability

In an effort to enhance the quality and competitiveness of Business Units within Public Service Agencies (BLU) in the education sector, KAP Abdul Hamid and Partners, in collaboration with BATS Consulting, organized an exclusive training titled "Enhancing Creativity, Accountability, and Sustainability of BLU Business Units in Education." This three-day event, held from Thursday to Saturday, November 21–23, 2024, took place at the Mercure Bandung City Centre Hotel.

Bringing together professionals with extensive expertise and experience in managing business units from some of Indonesias top universities, the training provided participants with strategic insights to advance their business units. Over 18 BLU institutions from the education sector participated, gaining practical strategies to elevate their business units to the next level.

Building a Strong Foundation of Leadership and Financial Management

The first day of the training focused on strengthening leadership and financial management as the main pillars for developing BLU Business Units. Edi Jaenudin, S.E., Ak., M.Si., Director of Finance and Logistics at Universitas Padjadjaran, opened the session with a presentation on the stages of transitioning a public university from a government agency (PTN Satker) to a BLU and eventually to an autonomous legal entity (PTN Badan Hukum), using Universitas Padjadjaran as a case study. He emphasized the importance of adaptive and strategic financial leadership to ensure business growth.

Following this, Wilda Farah, S.E., Ak., M.Ak., CA., CPA., BKP., CSRS., CSRA, Managing Partner of KAP Abdul Hamid and Partners, delivered practical insights on Financial Management and Treasury Systems for BLU Business Units. This session provided essential guidance on optimizing financial resource management efficiently and transparently for BLU Business Units.

The day concluded with a session by Brian Pramudita, S.E., Ak., M.Ak., CA., ACPA., BKP., CIB., CCA., Cerd-DA., Cert-SF., CSRS., CSRA., CSP., ACSAP, CEO of BATS Consulting, discussing Feasibility Studies for BLU Business Units. He highlighted the importance of feasibility analysis as a solid starting point for launching sustainable businesses, along with strategies to mitigate business risks.

Fostering Innovation and Synergy for Global Competitiveness

The second day of training took participants further, focusing on innovation and strategic synergy in developing BLU Business Units. Dr. Indrawan Nugroho, CEO of CIAS, opened the session by discussing Leadership in Creating Innovation and Business Development in Higher Education. He inspired participants to leverage creativity as a primary tool for navigating dynamic changes in the higher education landscape.

This was followed by T.M. Zakir Sjakur Machmud, M.Ec., Ph.D., Director of Business Unit Management and Development at Universitas Indonesia, who provided insights on Strategies for Developing and Managing Business Units in State Universities. He emphasized the importance of thorough planning in business unit management, covering aspects such as mindset, governance, and organizational structure. With a systematic approach, state universities can strengthen their business units to be more competitive and contribute to institutional independence.

Additionally, Dr. Ir. Meika Syabana Rusli, M.Sc.Agr, shared insights on Business Practices in Higher Education, particularly those implemented at IPB University. She provided concrete guidance on creating efficient, professional, and results-based business management practices, using IPB as an example of a solid business unit model.

Wilda Farah returned to present a session on Financial Reporting for BLU Business Units, explaining how business units need to prepare accurate and standardized financial reports as a form of accountability and transparency for report users. As the final session, Brian Pramudita delivered material on Tax Aspects for BLU Business Units, offering insights into proper tax management to support transparency and sustainability.

Enhancing Competence to Tackle Modern Challenges

This training not only provided technical knowledge but also served as a platform for discussion and collaboration among institutions. Faisal Luqman Hakim, a participant from UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, shared, "By attending this training, we learned many best practices for managing businesses in universities, from creating and conceptualizing to making these businesses sustainable."

Through this event, KAP Abdul Hamid and Partners, along with BATS Consulting, demonstrated their commitment to supporting BLU Business Units in surpassing conventional standards. With a focus on creativity, accountability, and sustainability, the training is expected to inspire BLU institutions to continue innovating, forging strategic partnerships, and strengthening their competitiveness on both national and global levels.

Looking ahead, BLU Business Units in the education sector are not only expected to become more adaptive to change but also to serve as driving forces in creating positive impacts for Indonesias education sector.