Indonesia
Surya Sari Faradiba, S.Si., M.Pd, Head of Unisma’s Master’s in Mathematics Education program, guided students from Universitas PGRI Wiranegara (UNIWARA) through writing proposals for the Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Program (KBMI) and Community Creativity Program (PKM).
The session, initiated by the Student Research Institute (a student activity unit), took the form of a webinar themed “Succeeding in Grant Proposals and National Research Funding.” Held via Zoom on Sunday, September 19, the event gave students the opportunity to learn directly from a Unisma lecturer with a proven track record of successfully guiding funded KBMI and PKM proposals in 2021.
Faradiba presented material on KBMI and PKM, explaining that this annual competition exists to give students a platform to apply and develop practical entrepreneurial skills.
“Although KBMI is an annual event, the evaluation criteria for proposals shift from year to year,” she noted.
She explained that KBMI’s assessment within PKM focuses heavily on the substance and construction of the proposal itself.
“Even though this is an annual event, don’t underestimate the proposal you submit. Make sure it fully meets KBMI’s required principles,” she said.
She went on to emphasize that KBMI’s most valuable criterion is what’s known as “noble purpose.”
“Say you’re selling meatballs, what actually drove you to start that particular business? That underlying motivation is what we call noble purpose.”
She further explained that PKM proposals come in two distinct formats: activity proposals and written works.
“Proposals that succeed across the five designated categories receive funding through PIMNAS (National Student Scientific Week), while written works receive a fixed award of 3 million rupiah.”
Finally, she urged students to craft their proposals carefully, so evaluators are genuinely convinced the proposal deserves funding.
“Frame your proposal around the current situation don’t simply recycle an old proposal that’s already received funding,” she concluded.
