麻豆直播

Organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, the competition challenges participants to formulate policy solutions for national economic issues through analytical and data-driven approaches. In this competition, Team Helios addressed the topic of policy reform for the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia.

Unlike most participants who came from economics backgrounds, Team Helios brought a distinctive Urban and Regional Planning perspective. Their approach began with analyzing existing UMKM policies, identifying real-world challenges, and conducting benchmarking studies with countries such as Thailand and Vietnam to identify policy gaps.

鈥淎s Urban and Regional Planning students, we started by examining current UMKM policies and understanding the real challenges on the ground, then strengthened our analysis with quantitative and fiscal data,鈥� they said.

Based on their analysis, Team Helios proposed three main solutions: regulatory harmonization, simplification of licensing and supervision, as well as digitalization and productive assistance for MSMEs. These solutions aim to improve policy effectiveness and enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs in the digital and global era.

Furthermore, their proposed ideas hold strategic relevance to the current condition of MSMEs in Indonesia, which continue to face challenges such as complex regulations, limited access to licensing, and insufficient support in technology adoption. Through a comprehensive approach, these policy recommendations have the potential to optimize the role of MSMEs as the backbone of the national economy while fostering more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Their motivation to participate in the competition stemmed from a desire to build their portfolio and test their capabilities in the field of economics, which is closely related to their academic background. In addition, their previous experience of not advancing to the final round encouraged them to come back stronger.

鈥淭his year, we wanted to make a comeback from our previous setback. We saw this as an opportunity to grow and test our capabilities,鈥� said Aldrin.

Throughout the competition, the team faced several challenges, particularly in managing their time amid demanding academic responsibilities, including intensive studio work. Aligning writing styles within a team-based paper also proved to be a challenge to maintain consistency.

Nevertheless, their hard work paid off. Team Helios successfully advanced to the final round and secured second place, surpassing their initial expectations. 鈥淲e initially aimed for at least third place, but achieving second place was both surprising and rewarding,鈥� Ratih added.

For them, this achievement is not only about the outcome but also about the process, which required consistency and perseverance. They also encouraged fellow students to actively participate in competitions as a means of self-development.

Reporter: Diva Anastasia Farasilva (Urban and Regional Planning, 2022)