Magelang, June 24, 2025 — Students of the Magister Public Administration Affirmation Program (MAP) at Universitas Gadjah Mada undertook a field trip to Magelang Regency as part of a learning process connecting theory with practical public policy implementation. The activity, held from June 23–24, involved scholarship recipients from various local government institutions across Indonesia and focused on strengthening Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as pillars of the local economy and job creation.
During the visit, participants engaged in direct dialogues with the Regional Development Planning, Research, and Development Agency (Bappeda and Litbangda) as well as the Department of Trade, Cooperatives, and MSMEs of Magelang Regency. Presentations covered concrete policies for MSME development, including partnerships with modern retail, facilitation of local product exports, and digitization of micro-enterprises. Participants also visited the IKM Center Lembah Tidar and UMKM-based tourist villages to observe firsthand the practices of community-driven economic empowerment.
This activity provided an in-depth learning platform for students to understand how local governments build resilient MSME ecosystems. Through direct interaction with business actors, local artisans, and government officials, participants gained tangible insights into the role of public administration in strengthening community economies.
The program is closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, emphasizing inclusive economic growth through job creation and support for small enterprises; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, highlighting the importance of innovation in developing local industries; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, reflected in cross-sector collaboration among government, academia, MSME actors, and local communities to promote sustainable economic development.
Armed with field-based knowledge, participants are expected to bring home inspiration and best practices to apply in their respective regions, while strengthening interregional networks to support an inclusive and equitable national development agenda.