Press Release: Implementation of International Research and Community Service - Collaboration with UTeM, Malaysia

The Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) of UPN Veteran Yogyakarta supports efforts to improve the Key Performance Indicators (IKU) in facilitating the faculty members to engage in international research and community service activities. In 2024, LPPM introduced a new research grant scheme, the International Collaboration Grant, and faculty members from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) have received funding for international collaboration, specifically with UTeM and UiTM in Malaysia. The faculty's achievements include securing funding for international collaboration research schemes, with three faculty members serving as principal investigators: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irhas Effendi, M.Si; Dr. Dyah Sugandini, SE, M.Si; and Dr. Titik Kusmantini, SE, M.Si.

From October 27–31, 2024, the FEB research team, consisting of Dr. Titik Kusmantini, SE, M.Si (Management), Dr. Heru Tri Sutiono, SE, M.Si (Management), and Dr. Zuhrotun, SE, M.Si (Accounting), conducted research to examine the practice of Supply Chain Finance in Koperasi Desa Lestari in Malaysia. The team held in-depth interviews (Focused-Group Discussions) with several cooperative managers and research team members from IPTK, UTeM, led by Anida Robbani, Ph.D. The cooperative's businesses are diverse, covering sectors such as agriculture, retail, tourism, and savings and loans. Each sector has developed a financing management policy that offers win-win solutions for the cooperative and its partners, including suppliers, distributors, financiers, and consumers. Various regulations have been established by the government and cooperative associations at both local and central levels, such as rules for dividend distribution or surplus business profits, financial audit requirements, and guidelines for community welfare outreach.

At the end of the visit, on October 30, 2024, the research team also conducted outreach and technical assistance for the Koperasi Komong Jassin Berhad in Chabau Village, Melaka, Malaysia. The activities included digital marketing assistance, such as website creation for the cooperative and Chabau village profile, education on win-win solutions for Supply Chain Finance Management, and guidance on cash flow management. The outreach was conducted in collaboration with the faculty partners from IPTK, UTeM at the Koperasi Komong Jassin Berhad office on Jl Jaafar Ismail Km 40, Solok Komong, Chabau Village, Asahan Melaka. The research partner is recognized as one of the best cooperatives in Melaka, having received awards or certifications for its work as a sustainable village cooperative due to its success in integrating the village's economic potential as the focus of its business and actively involving the local community, with 45 families participating as cooperative members.