Malang, December 5, 2024 – To strengthen the role of women in entrepreneurship through higher education, BINUS University, in collaboration with the University of Northampton, UK, organized the Policy Roundtable on Advancing Women’s Employability Through Entrepreneurship. Supported by the British Council through the Gender Equality Partnership Program, the event involved two local partners: Universitas Pesantren Tinggi Darul ‘Ulum, Jombang, East Java, and Universitas Alkhairaat, Palu, Central Sulawesi.

The event aimed to facilitate an open dialogue among stakeholders while disseminating the initial findings from research on women’s entrepreneurship in higher education in Indonesia. Experts, university partners, policymakers, and students gathered to formulate strategies to enhance gender inclusivity in entrepreneurship programs. Furthermore, the event served as a platform to share experiences, innovative approaches, and best strategies from universities in both the UK and Indonesia in supporting the development of women’s entrepreneurship.

Through constructive dialogue, participants discussed the unique challenges women face in building businesses, while also exploring new approaches to create a more supportive and competitive higher education environment. The emphasis on inclusivity was expected to catalyze policies that accelerate economic growth by empowering women as agents of change.

During the discussion, Doni Handoko, Head of UPT Pelahan from the East Java Cooperative and SME Office, highlighted the importance of small business owners, particularly women, building closer relationships with the government. He emphasized that such relationships enable entrepreneurs to access up-to-date information on programs supporting business growth, ranging from mentoring to funding. “One simple way to do this is by utilizing social media to interact with official government accounts, such as commenting on relevant posts,” Doni said. According to him, this step could open- up collaboration opportunities and strengthen access to available resources.

Dr. Tatum S. Adiningrum, M.Ed., Ph.D., Academic Development Senior Manager at BINUS University, stated, “This event raised awareness that women entrepreneurs face unique challenges that differ from men, requiring a special and focused approach. This is very beneficial in enriching the entrepreneurship learning process on campus, making it sharper and more relevant.”

This event not only reflected a global commitment to supporting women’s entrepreneurship and also served as the first step in creating a strong collaborative network among academics, policymakers, and industry practitioners. With a shared vision to build a more inclusive and competitive future, this Policy Roundtable was expected to generate tangible impacts that would enrich women’s entrepreneurship empowerment in Indonesia.