MAKASSAR – Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) players still face a number of challenges in developing their businesses. Beyond selling products, MSME owners are often confronted with issues of legality, bookkeeping, business planning, access to capital, and consumer research.
For that reason, knowledge is a significant form of capital. A business that grows without good governance will struggle to survive once its scale begins to expand. This is the need that the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) of Hasanuddin University sought to address through a Community Service Program (PKM) together with the Sidrap Regency Government.
A total of 100 MSME players were invited to take a fresh look at their businesses, especially how they have been managing them. Chair of the PKM Working Group (Pokja) at Unhas FEB, Dr. Nadhirah Nagu, S.E., Ak., M.Si., said the mentoring was designed so that MSME players gain support they can apply directly in developing their businesses.
“Through this PKM activity, MSME players can receive the empowerment and mentoring they need so they can develop their businesses and level up,” said Nadhirah.
Vice Dean for Partnerships, Research, Innovation, and Alumni at Unhas FEB, Prof. Dr. Musran Munizu, S.E., M.Si., M.A.P., said the activity is an entry point for building longer-term mentoring. Strengthening MSMEs should not stop at a single training session.
“This activity is an initiative to see what contribution FEB can make to Sidrap Regency. We will equip MSMEs so they can level up, and then the mentoring will be focused on nine partner villages. We hope this guidance can be carried out regularly and continuously,” Prof. Musran explained.
The approach has the support of the Sidrap Regency Government. Regional Secretary of Sidrap Regency, Andi Rahmat Saleh, S.E., M.Si., said the involvement of universities can strengthen the government’s efforts to provide more concrete solutions for the public.
“This cooperation is one piece of evidence that the campus is present not only to transform the world, but also to provide solutions and create real change in society, especially for MSME players,” said Andi Rahmat.
The training held on this occasion featured several speakers, namely:
1. Prof. Dr. Musran Munizu, S.E., M.Si., and Fransiscus Franci Dagi, S.H., discussed integrated legality and the importance of protecting Intellectual Property Rights (HAKI) as part of efforts to build MSME competitiveness.
2. Dr. Nadhirah Nagu, S.E., Ak., M.Si. presented on financial management through the material Financial Governance Management for MSMEs Based on SAK EMKM, Digital Bookkeeping, and Financial Literacy.
3. Prof. Dr. Anas Iswanto Anwar, S.E., M.A., explained business feasibility, business plans, proposal writing, financing, and facilitating access to capital.
4. Prof. Dr. Maat Pono, S.E., M.Si., and Dr. Haeriah Hakim, S.E., M.Mkt., covered marketing, digital branding, packaging innovation, and optimizing social media and marketplaces.
5. Dr. Darwis Said, S.E., Ak., delivered material on sustainability reporting and an ESG-based carbon calculator for MSMEs, an approach that introduces business owners to sustainability demands in the business world.
The mentoring program ran in two stages. The first day was devoted to briefing and presentation of material. The second day was used for practice and mentoring involving Unhas FEB students. MSME players did not merely listen, but were encouraged to apply the knowledge in managing their businesses.
This mentoring is an important part of the aspiration to “level up.” For MSMEs, leveling up is not simply about getting bigger. It also means better legality, more orderly bookkeeping, clearer planning, more open access to capital, more adaptive marketing, and the ability to withstand change.
And that journey is not designed to end after two days. With a continuing focus on the nine partner villages, Unhas FEB and the Sidrap Regency Government are trying to build something longer-lasting: a mentoring ecosystem that allows MSME players to grow together with knowledge, networks, and experience.
The program, themed “Empowering MSMEs to Level Up” and held together with the workshop “Empowered Sidrap, MSMEs Level Up,” took place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, at the Regent’s Office of Sidrap, Sidenreng Rappang Regency. (*/feb/dhs)
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.