On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with Bank Indonesia (BI) Yogyakarta Representative Office and the Association of Pesantren Business Economy (HEBITREN) DIY, marking the initial phase of the follow-up plan for the collaboration between FEBI-BI DIY-HEBITREN DIY. Within FEBI, the Center for Empowerment and Development Studies of Pesantren Economy (P2EP) and a group of lecturers will form a team to actualize this collaboration. Moreover, the envisaged collaboration will materialize in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FEBI and HEBITREN DIY, or a Work Order Letter (SPK) from Bank Indonesia Yogyakarta to FEBI. The subsequent steps following this FGD event may also involve collaboration between FEBI and Pesantren affiliated with HEBITREN DIY for the Independent Learning Campus through student internships or internship programs. Various collaboration schemes between FEBI-BI DIY-HEBITREN DIY were discussed during the FGD and have already been incorporated into the collaboration proposals.
During the forum, Dr. Afdawaiza, S.Ag, M.Ag, the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business, delivered a speech. He stated, “This collaboration is the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business’s support in realizing the function of Pesantren as an institution empowering the community, as stipulated in the Pesantren Law.” This sentiment was echoed by KH. Mohamad Khoeron, the Chairman of HEBITREN DIY. In his speech, he said, “I am very confident that the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business is the right institution to accompany HEBITREN DIY, especially in forming a business holding as an effort to drive the pesantren economy in DIY through HEBITREN.” Additionally, Mr. Mahmudi and Mrs. Rismah Nur Chasanah, representatives from Bank Indonesia (BI) Yogyakarta, were in attendance at the forum. They expressed strong confidence in selecting the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business as a collaborative partner to advance BI’s objective of establishing the Pesantren business holding model.
A noteworthy topic discussed during the FGD was the plan to hold training and mentoring sessions. The proposed activities include knowledge transfer to the HEBITREN DIY Regional Coordinators, training and mentoring on institutionalization, assistance in developing the HEBITREN business model, business planning, RAPB preparation, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Financial Reports, Organizational Structure and Job Descriptions, prospective employees, and core business operations. Additionally, the plan involves preparing the necessary infrastructure and facilities for the training and mentoring, implementing monitoring of the outcomes, and generating periodic reports on the mentoring results. This agenda has received consensus from FEBI, BI DIY, and HEBITREN DIY for imminent implementation.
Finally, the hope for convening this FGD is to serve as a forum that opens up sustainable collaboration, both in the short and long term, among FEBI, BI DIY, and HEBITREN DIY in order to realize the economic independence of pesantren.
(Galuh Tri Pambekti)